Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) – including chronic or gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia – are top drivers of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in the United States. However, prior studies have found breastfeeding could mitigate the risks associated with HDP for mothers and infants. Despite 83 percent of women in the U.S. initiating breastfeeding at delivery, only a quarter continue to breastfeed through six months, the recommend duration by leading health organizations.
Furthermore, a new study from Yale University has found women with HDP are even less likely to initiate or continue breastfeeding, suggesting an urgent need to develop targeted interventions that promote their exposure to the cardio-protective benefits of breastfeeding.
Using data from the Centers for Disease Control on more than 205,000 participants (a weighted sample of over 10 million U.S. women) who had given birth between January 2016 and November 2021, the authors found women who were diagnosed with HDP had 11 percent higher odds of never breastfeeding. Women with HDP who did initiate breastfeeding at birth had 17 percent higher odds of stopping before the recommended six month duration, with a median time for cessation that was 17 weeks shorter than women without HDP.
The authors call for future studies to investigate effective methods of breastfeeding promotion among all women, particularly those with HDP, to ensure mothers are aware of the associated positive health benefits. They also highlight that these interventions could help to promote the country’s overall health equity. In their study, they found American Indian/Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black women with HDP have the lowest breastfeeding rates. Thus, developing intervention strategies tailored to groups with the highest risk of HDP and lowest breastfeeding rates could not only improve maternal mortality, but advance the overall health of underrepresented populations.