The Influence Of Breastfeeding On Postpartum Weight Retention

Background:your words Weight gained during pregnancy and not lost postpartum has been identified as a contributor to increased obesity risk among women of childbearing age. Objective: To determine the influence of any and exclusive breastfeeding duration on postpartum weight retention (PPWR). Design: Women were selected from the longitudinal Infant Feeding Practices Study II (IFPS II) . All women who reported both their pre-pregnancy weight and at least one postpartum weight were included in the analyses. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to examine the association between any and exclusive breastfeeding duration and PPWR at 3 (n=2254), 6 (n=1966), 9 (n= 1824), and 12 (n=1693) months postpartum. Models were controlled for pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal age, parity, poverty level, education, and prenatal smoking status. Results: Results indicate that breastfeeding is associated with PPWR. Any breastfeeding for between 3-4 and 4-5 months was associated with an increased odds of retaining above median PPWR at 12 months postpartum (OR: 1.99, 95%, CI: 1.21, 3.24; OR: 1.83, 95% CI; 1.01-3.29). By contrast, exclusive breastfeeding was associated with decreased odds of retaining above median PPWR at 6 months (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.41-0.98). Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months was also associated with significantly decreased odds of retaining above median PPWR at 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum. Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months was associated with decreased odds of retaining above median PPWR