In-hospital breast feeding rates among women with gestational diabetes and pregestational Type 2 diabetes in South Auckland.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the uptake of breast feeding in mothers with either Type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes (GDM) in a hospital serving a multiethnic community in South Auckland, New Zealand.


METHODS
A retrospective study of all women attending the Diabetes in Pregnancy clinic over a 4-year period was undertaken: 30 women had Type 2 diabetes and 373 GDM.


RESULTS
Compared with mothers with GDM, mothers with Type 2 diabetes were less likely to breast feed in any way as the first feed (41.4% vs. 68.0%, P = 0.011) or at discharge (69.0% vs. 84.0%, P = 0.039). In the combined group, there were no differences in uptake of breast feeding by ethnicity, age, parity, body mass index, smoking or antenatal glycaemia, use of insulin or presence of hypertension. Breast feeding on discharge was associated with a higher APGAR score, breast feeding as the first feed (78.2% vs. 19.4%, P < 0.001) and lower rates of delivery by Caesarean section (17.0% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.006). Logistic regression showed breast feeding as the first feed, the major determinant for breast feeding on discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
Factors delaying breast feeding as the first feed are the major determinant of breast feeding on discharge. Strategies to increase breast feeding as the first feed among women with Type 2 diabetes, and those having a Caesarean section, may be useful in increasing the uptake of breast feeding in the longer term.
Simmons
D
D
Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand. simmonsd@waikatodhb.govt.nz
Conroy
C
C
Thompson
C F
CF
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin