1.7 Conditions related to lactation outcomes
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![]() Key Points - Case Study AJoanne, aged 32, a regular patient, comes to see you when she is 12 weeks pregnant with her first baby. She has just returned from a trip around Australia and her pregnancy was confirmed by a doctor in the town they were in at the time. She has copies of her baseline blood tests with her and all are normal. Would you discuss breastfeeding at this visit?
What information would you give?
Why do breastfeeding alternatives have different effects?
What are mothers' common and valid concerns about breastfeeding?
Would you examine her breasts at this visit?
What are the contraindications to breastfeeding?
What conditions may be related to poorer lactation outcomes?
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What conditions may be related to poorer lactation outcomes?
- Previous lactation failure
- Only a small proportion of women are physically unable to breastfeed. However, many more initiate breastfeeding but wean before they originally intended due to unexpected and insurmountable problems. There is no reason to suspect similar difficulties occurring in a subsequent lactation unless there are fundamental anatomical or hormonal problems. Identifying the reasons for a previous early weaning enables strategies be instituted to prevent or overcome the problems.
- Hormonal problems
- An interplay of hormones is necessary to prepare the breasts for lactation and to initiate and maintain lactation after the infant is born. Women with hormonal conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes and endocrine disorders that lead to difficulty conceiving may experience difficulty initiating lactation.
- Obesity
- Women who are obese or overweight are less likely to be breastfeeding at any time postpartum than their normal weight counterparts1.
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![]() Case Study ActivityThink about what your response would be to the scenario presented, write it into the exercise, then submit it and read the suggestions given. |
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Notes
- # Oddy WH et al. (2006) The association of maternal overweight and obesity with breastfeeding duration