Breastfeeding and its impact on daily life in women with type 1 diabetes during the first six months after childbirth: a prospective cohort study

Marie Berg,Carina Sparud-Lundin,Lena-Karin Erlandsson

doi:10.1186/1746-4358-7-20

Marie Berg, Carina Sparud-Lundin + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-7-20

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundFor mothers with diabetes, breastfeeding is a great challenge due to their struggle with potentially unstable blood glucose levels. This paper explores breastfeeding attitudes and impact of breastfeeding on the daily life of mothers with type 1 diabetes compared with non-diabetic mothers.MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study of 108 mothers with type 1 diabetes and a reference group of 104 mothers in the west of Sweden. Data were collected through medical records and structured telephone interviews at 2 and 6 months after childbirth.ResultsWomen in both the diabetes group and the reference group had high levels of confidence (84% and 93% respectively) in their breastfeeding capacity before childbirth, and 90% assessed breastfeeding as a positive and an important experience during the six months of follow-up. About 80% assessed breastfeeding as influencing daily life ‘very much’ or ‘quite a lot’ at 2 months as did 60% at 6 months, with no difference between the groups. In mothers with diabetes, the impact of breastfeeding on the priority of other duties decreased over time, as did feelings of time pressure and negative effects on patterns of sleep. Compared to the reference group, mothers with diabetes at 6 months remained more affected by disruptions in daily life and they felt more worried about their health both at 2 and 6 months after childbirth. For the reference group mothers’ sensitivity to unexpected disruptions in daily routines decreased between 2 and 6 months after childbirth, and they expressed a greater need to organize their time than mothers with diabetes.ConclusionMothers with diabetes type 1 express more worry for own health and are more sensitive to distruptions. To balance their everyday life and to reduce the risk of stress and illhealth they are therefor, compared to other mothers, likely to need additional professional and peer support.

Highlights

For mothers with diabetes, breastfeeding is a great challenge due to their struggle with potentially unstable blood glucose levels
With the aim of identifying needs to develop supportive activities, this paper explores breastfeeding attitudes and the impact of breastfeeding on the daily life of mothers with type 1 diabetes compared with non-diabetic mothers
As part of a research project investigating breastfeeding in mothers with type 1 diabetes (MODIAB-breastfeeding) a prospective cohort study comparing diabetes group with a reference group was performed

Summary

Introduction

For mothers with diabetes, breastfeeding is a great challenge due to their struggle with potentially unstable blood glucose levels. Mothers with type 1 diabetes have a different point of entry into the breastfeeding situation than non-diabetic mothers. Their situation includes a struggle in daily life with breastfeeding, albeit with a strong motivation to succeed, simultaneously filled with uncertainty and unpredictability related to their own unstable glycemic control [15,16]. This instability results from a decreased need for insulin related to increased glucose consumption during the first few weeks of breastfeeding [17,18]. Mothers with diabetes experience daily life as unpredictable and related to problems with recognising their signs and symptoms of bodily reactions related to diabetes during breastfeeding [15,16]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion