Objective: To investigate the prevalence of long-term breastfeeding among women with type 2 diabetes compared to women with type 1 diabetes and to identify predictors of long-term breastfeeding for women with pre-gestational diabetes.
Methods: In total, 149 women with diabetes were interviewed about long-term breastfeeding, defined as any breastfeeding 4 months postpartum.
Results: Ninety-eight percent of the women aimed to breastfeed. At time of discharge, any breastfeeding was frequent for both groups of women (86% versus 93%, p = 0.17). However, 4 months postpartum, the 44 women with type 2 diabetes showed significantly lower prevalence of breastfeeding than the 105 women with type 1 diabetes (34% versus 61%, p < 0.01). Number of feedings in the first 24 h was an independent positive predictor, whereas pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and smoking were independent negative predictors of long-term breastfeeding.
Conclusion: The prevalence of long-term breastfeeding among women with type 2 diabetes was considerably lower than in women with type 1 diabetes. Number of feedings in the first 24 h was positive and BMI and smoking were negative predictors of long-term breastfeeding in women with pre-gestational diabetes.
Keywords: Breastfeeding; lactation; long-term breastfeeding; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes.