Antenatal breast milk expression and storage by women with diabetes in pregnancyfor improving infant outcomes

Abstract

There is a growing trend in Australia of encouraging women with diabetes in pregnancy to express and store colostrum prior to birthing. Following birth, the breastfed infant may be given the stored colostrum to minimise the use of artificial formula or intravenous fluid administration if correction of hypoglycaemia is required. However, findings from observational studies suggest that antenatal breast milk expression may stimulate labour prematurely and increase admissions to special care nurseries for correction of neonatal hypoglycaemia. We conducted a systematic review using the methodology of the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group.