Sunnybrook increases rate of exclusive breastfeeding in diabetic women

Exclusive breastfeeding rates among diabetic women discharged from the hospital have jumped from 49 per cent to 63 per cent following a tailored education program at Sunnybrook.

“Women with diabetes have lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding, despite the numerous benefits for both the mother and her baby,” explains Dr. Jo Watson, Chair of the Breastfeeding Centre of Excellence at Sunnybrook. “Diabetes is one of Canada’s fastest growing chronic conditions, and we were seeing evidence of this in our Women and Babies Program.”

With funding from the Health Nexus Best Start Program, the program launched an intensive education program to ensure every pregnant patient with diabetes receives early, frequent and one-on-one intervention to convey the importance of initiating and continuing to breastfeed. In addition to prenatal education and support, lactation consultants at Sunnybrook are notified as soon as a woman with diabetes delivers her baby to ensure a timely consultation and assistance.

For mothers with diabetes, breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Longer durations of breastfeeding are associated with improved insulin and glucose response in women with a history of gestational diabetes. As well, the longer a mother breastfeeds, the less likely she is to develop Type II Diabetes.

Babies born to mothers with diabetes are at an increased risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Early breastfeeding stabilizes glucose in babies born to women with diabetes. There is also a link between exclusive breastfeeding and a reduced chance of infants developing Type 1 Diabetes.

“By receiving this valuable information and additional support, women can make an informed decision about feeding their baby,” explains Dr. Watson. “At this point, 100 per cent of patients at Sunnybrook with diabetes are receiving education in their second trimester about breastfeeding and diabetes.”

Currently, 98 per cent of women with diabetes initiate breastfeeding, with 63 per cent exclusively breastfeeding when they are discharged from the hospital.

“Mothers have a lot of questions, and we’re able to answer these, and provide ongoing information and support,” explains Sue Hermann, Advanced Practice Nurse with Sunnybrook’s Breastfeeding Clinic. “The most common questions we hear are whether diabetes will affect the quality of the milk – it doesn’t. And also if diabetes medication will affect the baby – again, it doesn’t.”

“Through the Breastfeeding Centre of Excellence, we are working to provide additional education and support in situations where the health of the mother or infant makes breastfeeding more challenging,” says Dr. Watson.