Risk Factors Associated With Delayed Secretory Activation in a Cohort of Nulliparous Women in Western Australia

BACKGROUND: Delayed secretory activation can negatively impact maternal and child health through increasing the risk of early cessation of breastfeeding. Early cessation of breastfeeding is known to be associated with increased health risks. AIM: To determine the occurrence of, and risk factors associated with, delayed secretory activation in nulliparous women in Western Australia. METHODS: ≤ 0.10) were entered into binary logistic regression models to quantify their association with delayed secretory activation and adjusted for known confounders. RESULTS: : OR 2.51 (95% CI 1.13, 5.55), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): OR (5.06; 95% CI 1.28, 20.08) in bivariate analysis and in the adjusted multivariable model. Among mothers with GDM, 78.6% experienced delayed secretory activation, compared to 21.4% of mothers who did not have GDM. CONCLUSION: Nulliparous women, particularly those with GDM, should be supported to initiate early, frequent, and optimal breast stimulation to exclusively breastfeed.