Breast Milk Onset Delayed in Obese Moms

​Every day we hear some news (which is always negative!) about obesity and the latest one is even more worse. While obesity during pregnancy is associated with numerous complications during childbirth, yet another deduction to eradicate obesity has joined the list of long-standing reasons-delayed breast milk production.

A new study that involved more than 200 new-moms, who had pledged to breast-feed, has announced this crucial association between obesity and breast-feeding. Lactogenesis is the onset of milk secretion which must happen within the first three days after a baby is born. The research found a delay in the ‘lactogenesis’ process more frequently among women who were obese at the time of delivery. This finding is sensitive and new moms/women in childbearing age must take precautionary steps to avoid obesity.

The exact study involved 216 women who gave birth to single babies. Production of breast milk was delayed beyond the third day after delivery in around 46% of non-obese mothers. But, this delay was at an increased rate of 58% in obese new-moms.

The Overall Effect of Delayed Breastfeeding

1. Breastfeeding is in itself a hard task for the new mom. The study has revealed breastfeeding to be much harder in the case of moms who were obese before/during pregnancy.
2. Newborns of moms whose breast milk sets at a later stage are at a danger of losing more weight during the initial days and weeks compared to the newborns of mothers whose breast milk sets in within three days of childbirth.
3. Babies born to mothers whose breastmilk has not been established rely on infant formulas which do not match the nutrients of breastmilk in any given situation.
4. While these obese women realize that their milk may come in late, they should be prepared to breast-feed longer (longer than WHO guidelines that insists compulsory breastfeeding up to 6 months since a child is born).
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Although delayed breastfeeding in obese women is an important discovery, the reason why obesity can delay breast milk production is a big question mark which needs further research. Obesity/overweight needs lifestyle interventions and a registered dietitian nutritionist is the right person to modify your eating and exercise habits. Fix an appointment with a reputed RDN at www.firsteatright.com to solve your obesity problems in a healthy way.