Impact of diabetes in pregnancy on Stage II Lactogenesis among postpartum diabetic women compared to non-diabetics

Abstract

Diabetes in pregnancy -whether preexisting or gestational- can have negative impact on pregnancy, labor and lactation. Infants of diabetic mothers benefit most from early establishment of breastfeeding as it helps them regulate their blood glucose levels on the short term and decrease their risk of developing diabetes later on life. Lactogenesis Stage II is the initiation of copious milk secretion in a hormonal dependent process triggered by a rapid drop of serum progesterone after the delivery of the placenta. It is expected to occur within the first 72 hours postpartum. Delayed onset of lactogenesis II takes place when signs and symptoms of breastmilk changes don’t show for more than 72 hours postpartum. This study aims to compare diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women regarding the onset of stage II lactogenesis at 72 hours postpartum and to explore the potential impact of the degree of diabetes control in antepartum period on the delay in stage II of lactogenesis. This study is an observational prospective cohort study, carried out on 203 pregnant women aged from 18 to 40 years old during their routine antenatal care visits in the third trimester of pregnancy at Ain-Shams University Maternity hospital outpatient clinic from December 2020 to August 2021, Cairo, Egypt.