Decreasing NICU admissions of asymptomatic infants of women with pregestational diabetes mellitus improves breastfeeding initiation rates.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic infants born to women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) are usually admitted to the well baby nursery (WBN) while those who are symptomatic or in need of specialized care are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). OBJECTIVE: To determine if changes in the NICU admission rate of asymptomatic infants born to women with PGDM during two different epochs affected breastfeeding (BF) initiation rates. DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective cohort investigation of 386 women with PGDM and their infants who delivered in 2008-11 (epoch 1) and 457 who delivered in 2013-16 (epoch 2) at a single institution. RESULTS: NICU admissions: Comparison between epoch 1 and epoch 2 showed a decrease in the number of admissions from 243 (63%) to 175 (38%) *(chi square *p < 0.05). Respiratory distress (39 and 43%) and prematurity (28 and 23%) as admission diagnoses remained unchanged. Admissions for prevention of hypoglycemia declined (32% to 21%)*. At discharge from the NICU, exclusive BF (12 to 19%)* and any BF increased (41 to 55%)* while formula feeding (FF) decreased (59 to 45%)*. Admission to the NICU remained a strong predictor of BF initiation failure (a OR 0.6, 95% , CI 0.4-0.9, p 0.005).WBN admissions: Comparison between epoch 1 and epoch 2 showed an increase in the number of admissions from 143 (37%) to 282 (62%)*. The incidence of hypoglycemia (31% and 38%) and its correction with oral feedings (76% and 71%) remained unchanged. At discharge from the WBN, exclusive BF (15 to 27%)* and any BF (52 to 62%)* increased while FF decreased (48 to 38%)*. CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in the number of NICU admissions of asymptomatic infants born to women with PGDM is associated with improvements in BF initiation rates.

Failure to initiate breastfeeding among high risk obstetrical patients who intended to breastfeed.

BACKGROUND: In the US, at the time of discharge from the hospital, 79% of women had initiated breastfeeding. Intention to breastfeed is a strong predictor of breastfeeding initiation; however, we reported initiation failure in 45% of women with pregestational diabetes who intended to breastfeed. Information regarding intention and initiation among women with other high risk obstetrical conditions (HROB) remains scarce. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain demographic and clinical factors associated with breastfeeding initiation failure among women with HROB conditions who intended to breastfeed. METHODS: The study population is comprised of 89 women with diabetes (DM), 57 who were receiving treatment for substance abuse (SA), 51 women diagnosed with miscellaneous (MISC) conditions and 32 with history of preterm labor/delivery (PTL/D). Intention to exclusively breastfeed or in combination with formula (breastfed/FF) was ascertained prenatally. Breastfeeding was considered initiated if at discharge ≥50% of their infant feedings were maternal milk. Statistics include chi-square, Wilcoxon's and logistic regression (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Of all women, 59% initiated any breastfeeding. Intention to breastfeed/FF, lack of mother-infant contact during the first hour following birth and limited lactation consultation were predictive of initiation failure. The odds of initiation failure were 2.3 times higher among women who wished to breastfeed/FF as compared to those who wished to exclusively breastfeed. Women from the SA group had lower rates of initiation failure than the other three HROB groups. CONCLUSION: Intention to breastfeed among women with diverse HROB conditions is similar to that of the general population; however, initiation rates are disappointingly low. Intention to exclusively breastfeed results in fewer initiation failures. Prenatal intention to combine breast and formula feeding characterize women who may benefit from specific educational programs.

Receipt of preconception care among women with prepregnancy and gestational diabetes.

AIMS: To determine the extent of provision of preconception care among women with prepregnancy diabetes or women who develop gestational diabetes compared with women without diabetes and to examine the association between preconception care receipt and diabetes status, adjusting for maternal characteristics. METHODS: Data were collected from women who completed the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System questionnaire in 10 U.S. states (Hawaii, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia) in the period 2009 to 2010. Weighted, self-reported receipt of preconception care by diabetes status was examined. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the association between preconception care receipt and diabetes status. RESULTS: Overall, 31% of women reported receiving preconception care. Women with prepregnancy diabetes (53%) reported the highest prevalence of preconception care, while women with gestational diabetes and women without diabetes reported a lower prevalence (32 and 31%, respectively). In the adjusted model, there was no difference in reported preconception care receipt between women with gestational diabetes and women without diabetes (odds ratio 1.1, 95% CI 0.9, 1.3), while women with prepregnancy diabetes were significantly more likely to report receipt of preconception care (odds ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.5, 3.3) than women without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Although all women of reproductive age should receive preconception care, it is vital that women with known risk factors, such as those with prepregnancy diabetes and with risk factors for gestational diabetes, are counselled before pregnancy to optimize maternal and infant health outcomes. It is encouraging that women with prepregnancy diabetes report receiving preconception care more often than women on average, but preconception care is still not reaching all women at high risk.

Factors associated with breastfeeding at discharge differ by maternal diabetes type.

AIMS: To investigate the factors associated with breastfeeding initiation in mothers with gestational and prepregnancy diabetes mellitus vs those without diabetes. METHODS: Ohio Vital Statistics birth certificate data from 2006 to 2011 on all singleton births to women resident in Ohio aged 16-44 years were used to determine the factors associated with breastfeeding initiation by diabetes status. Logistic regression models stratified by diabetes status were used to analyse the association of breastfeeding with characteristics of the mother and infant. RESULTS: Among the 792 730 infants born in Ohio between 2006 and 2011 used in the analysis, 5.3% were born to mothers with gestational diabetes and 0.8% to mothers with prepregnancy diabetes. Although some associations of breastfeeding initiation with maternal and infant characteristics were similar across all diabetes statuses, they differed by maternal prepregnancy weight, age and race, prenatal care, county type and infant's gestational age. Unlike mothers without diabetes, overweight mothers with gestational diabetes were equally likely to breastfeed compared with those of normal weight (odds ratio 0.95; 95% CI 0.87, 1.03) and mothers in rural (odds ratio 1.0; 95% CI 0.9, 1.1) and metropolitan counties (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.0, 1.1) were equally likely to breastfeed compared with those in suburban counties. Although significantly associated with breastfeeding initiation among mothers without diabetes, the mother's prepregnancy weight status and age, county type and prenatal care were not found to be significant factors among mothers with prepregnancy diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to understand how these factors influence the initiation of breastfeeding decisions made by mothers.

The weight of US residence among immigrants: a systematic review.

As the number of immigrants in the USA continues to rise, it becomes increasingly important to understand how their health differs from native-born individuals. Obesity is a public health concern and a component of health that may differ and change in important ways in immigrants. This research synthesizes the current literature on the relationship between immigrant duration of residence in the USA and body weight. Five databases from the health and social sciences were searched for all pertinent publications. Fifteen articles met inclusion criteria, 14 of which reported a significant, positive relationship between body mass index and duration of residence in the USA (all P-values <0.10). Two studies reported a threshold effect of weight gain after 10 years of US residence, and another study reported that body mass index peaks after 21 years of duration for men and after 15 years for women. The results of this review suggest that weight gain prevention programmes would be beneficial for many immigrants within the first decade of residence in the USA. Prevention efforts may be more successful if nativity and acculturation are considered in addition to race/ethnicity. Future research is needed to identify the specific mechanisms through which living in the USA may adversely affect health outcomes.