Establishing breast feeding in infants with Down syndrome: the FADES cohort experience
Georgina M Williams1,2,3, Sam Leary4, Sofia Leadbetter4
1NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre Nutrition Theme, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK georgina.williams@bristol.ac.uk.
Insights
Breastfeeding is possible for infants with Down syndrome (DS), with prevalence rates comparable to the general population. This study found higher rates of combination feeding in infants with DS compared to the general population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Infants with Down syndrome (DS) may face unique challenges with feeding.
- Understanding breastfeeding prevalence in this population is crucial for supportive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe breastfeeding prevalence and maternal experiences in infants with Down syndrome.
- To compare breastfeeding rates in infants with DS to the general population.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal cohort study involving 70 infants with DS under 8 months.
- Data collected via questionnaires between September 2014 and August 2017.
- Breastfeeding prevalence assessed at 6 weeks and 6 months.
Main Results:
- Exclusive breastfeeding prevalence in infants with DS was similar to the general population at 6 weeks (21%) and 6 months (4%).
- Overall breastfeeding prevalence (exclusive or combination) was higher in infants with DS (64% at 6 weeks, 54% at 6 months) compared to the general population.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is achievable for some infants with Down syndrome.
- Breastfeeding prevalence in infants with DS is comparable to, and in some aspects higher than, the general population.
- Supportive measures may help overcome potential breastfeeding challenges in infants with DS.
Objective:
To describe breastfeeding prevalence and maternal experience in infants with trisomy 21.
Design:
Longitudinal cohort study.
Setting:
Participants from UK recruited through websites, social media and local collaborators: neonatologists, community paediatricians and research nurses.
Subjects:
Infants under the age of 8 months with Down syndrome (DS) recruited to the Feeding and Autoimmunity in Down Syndrome Evaluation Study between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2017. Seventy participants: median age 20 weeks (IQR 13-29 weeks) at initial questionnaire.
Main Outcome Measure:
Breastfeeding prevalence at 6 weeks and 6 months among infants with DS.
Results:
The prevalence of exclusive breast feeding among study participants was similar to the general population (13/61, 21% vs 23% at 6 weeks, 2/54, 4% vs 1% at 6 months). However, the prevalence of breast feeding (exclusive or combination feeding) among the study participants was higher than the general population (39/61 64% vs 55% at 6 weeks, 32/59 54% vs 34% at 6 months).
Conclusion:
Although there may be challenges in establishing breast feeding in infants with DS, our data suggest that exclusive breast feeding is possible for some, and the prevalence of breast feeding is comparable to the prevalence in the general population.
Trial Registration Number:
ISRCTN12415856.
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