Production of Breast Milk in Pregnant Women with and without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a health disorder associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in both mother and baby. Breastfeeding is one way that mothers do to reduce this risk. However, research results showed that the duration of breastfeeding in mothers with GDM was shorter compared to non-GDM mothers. Related to that, this study aims to determine breast milk production in GDM and non-GDM pregnant women. This is important so that further intervention can be carried out to prepare for breastfeeding after childbirth. The study design used a prospective cohort and involved respondents:12 pregnant women with GDM and 12 non-GDM. The inclusion criteria are GDM and non-GDM pregnant women with a gestational age of 28-31 weeks and willing to be respondents. The study was conducted at Jakarta Hospital. The instruments used are questionnaires and observation sheets for breast milk production. As for the analysis, the research used a chi-square statistical test. The results of the study showed a significant relationship between the status of GDM and non-GDM pregnant women with breast milk production ( P value 0.05). Maximum milk production in pregnant women with GDM is less than non-GDM, with a maximum amount of milk production of 0.3cc and 0.5cc, respectively. Pregnant women with GDM milk expenditure is lower than non-GDM pregnant women. Breast milk expenditure of pregnant women with GDM is slower than non-GDM pregnant women. This is evident from the research results showing that 58,3% of non-GDM pregnant women have expressed breast milk (on average starting at 17 weeks gestation). While pregnant women with GDM only as much as 8,3% have released breast milk (starting at 31 weeks of age). Breastfeeding education and breast care during pregnancy, as well as nutrition, are needed to increase maternal self-efficacy later in breastfeeding. Researchers are then expected to observe long-term breastfeeding expenditure ranging from pregnancy to six months and even up to two years of breastfeeding with many samples.