Lactation Consultation by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Improves Breastfeeding Rates for Mothers With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background In patients with gestational diabetes, breastfeeding decreases the lifetime risk of Type 2 diabetes by half. Lactation consultation has been shown to increase breastfeeding rates in the general population but has not been assessed in a gestational diabetes population. Research Aims To determine if (1) a postpartum International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) consultation during delivery hospitalization improved inclusive (any) or exclusive breastfeeding rates at hospital discharge and 3 months postpartum in participants with GDM; and if (2) obstetrical providers’ acknowledgement of maternal feeding preference affected the rates of IBCLC consultation for patients. Methods This was a retrospective, comparative, secondary analysis of a prospective cohort ( N = 517) study of women gestational diabetes. Participants who received a IBCLC consultation ( n = 386; 74.5%) were compared to those who did not ( n = 131; 25.5%). Baseline demographics, antepartum characteristics, neonatal information, mode of infant feeding at hospital discharge and 3 months postpartum, and IBCLC consultation during postpartum hospitalization were measured. Results After adjusting for baseline differences, participants who received an IBCLC consultation were more likely to report any breastfeeding at postpartum discharge (aOR 4.87; 95% CI [2.67, 8.86]) and at 3 months postpartum (aOR 5.39; 95% CI [2.61, 11.16]) compared to participants who did not. However, there was no difference in exclusive breastfeeding rates between those who did and did not receive IBCLC consultation. Conclusion Inpatient IBCLC consultation during the immediate postpartum period was associated with improved rates of any breastfeeding in participants with GDM.