Breastfeeding during pregnancy: A systematic review
G López-Fernández1, M Barrios2, J Goberna-Tricas3
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Corporació Sanitaria ParcTaulí, Parc del Taulí 1, 08208 Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de la Valld'Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
Summary
Breastfeeding during pregnancy (BDP) appears safe for pregnancy outcomes and birth weight, but more research is needed on its effects on maternal nutrition and infant health.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Lactation Studies
Background:
- The consequences of breastfeeding during pregnancy (BDP) are not well-established.
- Existing studies on BDP have used varied methodologies, yielding conflicting results.
- A comprehensive systematic review on BDP's implications is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize scientific evidence on breastfeeding during pregnancy (BDP).
- To evaluate the sufficiency of current evidence regarding BDP's impact on maternal health, breast milk, and infant outcomes.
- To identify knowledge gaps concerning BDP's effects on the mother, breastfed child, and current pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of English and Spanish publications from 1990-2015.
- Searches conducted across multiple databases: Cinahl, PubMed, IME, CUIDEN, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PyscINFO.
- Inclusion criteria applied to 3278 identified publications, with 19 studies meeting all requirements.
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding during pregnancy (BDP) did not appear to negatively impact pregnancy termination or birth weights.
- Limited evidence exists regarding BDP's effects on maternal nutritional status in developed countries.
- The impact of BDP on breastfed sibling growth, breast milk composition, and newborn growth post-delivery remains unclear.
Conclusions:
- Current data suggest BDP is not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes or reduced birth weights.
- Significant gaps in knowledge persist regarding BDP's effects on maternal nutrition, breast milk, and infant development.
- Further high-quality research with robust methodologies and larger sample sizes is necessary to clarify the implications of breastfeeding during pregnancy.
