Study finds link between hypertension and breastfeeding outcomes
Yale UniversityPeer-Reviewed Publication
New Haven, Conn. — Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) — like chronic or gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia — are among the leading causes of maternal and infant death in the United States.
Between 2017 to 2019, 16% of all U.S. pregnancies were complicated by an HDP diagnosis, with much higher rates seen among non-Hispanic Black/African Americanand American Indian/Alaskan Native women. But HDPs don’t just affect women in the short term; these disorders can increase their long-term risk for heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.
But there could be an opportunity to mitigate these longer-term health risks through breastfeeding, Yale researchers have found. In a new study, they discovered that an HDP diagnosis before or during pregnancy related to higher odds of never breastfeeding, or for those who initiated breastfeeding, higher probability of stopping. The findings suggest women with HDPs may benefit from targeted interventions that promote their exposure to the cardioprotective benefits of breastfeeding.
- Journal
- JAMA Network Open