Differences in infant feeding practices by mode of conception in a United States cohort

Abstract

Objective To identify associations between fertility treatment use (assisted reproductive technologies, ovulation induction, and artificial insemination) and subsequent infant feeding practices. Design The Upstate KIDS population-based cohort enrolled mothers who delivered live births, sampling on fertility treatment and plurality. Setting New York, USA between 2008-2010 (excluding New York City). Patients/Participants Data regarding singletons and one randomly selected infant among twins were used. Intervention(s) None Main Outcome Measures Mothers reported breastfeeding and formula feeding practices at 4, 8, and 12 months postpartum. Modified Poisson regression was used to compare risks for feeding practices by mode of conception. Marginal structural models were used to estimate the controlled direct effects of fertility treatment on feeding, independent of preterm birth. Results Among 4,591 mothers, 1,361 (30%) conceived using fertility treatments. Mothers who used fertility treatments were less likely to breastfeed until twelve months postpartum (aRR 0.58, 95%CI 0.40, 0.86) and more likely to provide formula (aRR 1.22, 95%CI 1.11, 1.33), solids (aRR 1.17, 95%CI 1.05 1.31), and juice (aRR 1.44, 95%CI 1.00, 2.06) by four months than mothers who did not conceive with treatments. Fertility treatment remained associated with breastfeeding cessation and formula feeding in mediation analyses, suggesting preterm birth does not fully explain these associations. Conclusions Women who conceived with fertility treatments were less likely to breastfeed later in infancy and more likely to provide formula, solids, and juice earlier in infancy. As our analyses accounted for confounding and preterm birth, other contributing factors may include difficulties feeding twins or workplace breastfeeding accommodations.

Maternal experiences with and sources of information on galactagogues to support lactation: a cross-sectional study

“…Socioeconomic factors and health disparities result in greater barriers for vulnerable populations, often related to the need to return to work soon after giving birth 64. Maternal health factors, including delayed childbearing, cesarean section, multiple births, mode of conception,29 and obesity may also contribute to potential challenges to breastfeeding 65. Maternal obesity in particular places a mother at increased risk of physiological difficulties during lactation and lower breast-milk production,66 and may be associated with insufficient secretion of the hormone prolactin, required for milk production 67.…”

Breastfeeding in women who conceived using fertility treatments: a systematic review

“…En los estudios donde se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas, los autores las justificaron por la mayor probabilidad de nacimientos múltiples y prematuros que presenta esta población 3,9 . El principal motivo que se ha aportado para dejar de amamantar entre las mujeres que conciben mediante TF ha sido la incapacidad para establecer un suministro de leche suficiente 26 . Ningún estudio ha dilucidado si la infertilidad está asociada con una limitación fisiopatológica en la producción de leche materna.…”

“…Estas diferencias fueron explicadas por el mayor riesgo de partos por cesárea y partos prematuros o con bajo peso al nacer. Estos factores se han asociado con la introducción de fórmulas durante el periodo hospitalario postparto 9,26 . Deberían tomarse estrategias a nivel médico para reducir la tasa de partos por cesárea en las madres que conciben con TF y a nivel enfermero para mejorar el manejo de la lactancia materna durante el ingreso posparto en esta población.…”

“…A corto plazo, la frecuencia de lactancia materna a las seis semanas fue mayor en el grupo con TF (p = 0,03) 25 , mientras que a las ocho semanas Barrera y col solo observaron ese resultado para el subgrupo con TF invasivas 3 . A medio plazo, se obtuvieron resultados discrepantes: Sha y col describieron que a los seis meses los TF se asociaban a una menor duración de la lactancia 9 , aunque esta relación no fue significativa ni a los cuatro ni a los ocho meses en el estudio de Michels y col 26 . Estos dos mismos estudios discreparon respecto a los resultados observados a largo plazo: a los doce meses la frecuencia de lactancia fue un 4% menor en el grupo exposición en el estudio de Michels y col 26 pero no en el de Sha y col 9 .…”

Breastfeeding following in vitro fertilisation in Switzerland—Does mode of conception affect breastfeeding behaviour?

“…Infertility and infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) impose substantial distress 6 . Previous studies showed that infertility and its treatment affect breastfeeding behaviour 5,7‐11 . Moreover, pregnancies after IVF showed a higher risk for small for gestational age infants, low birthweight, caesarean sections and preterm births 12,13 .…”