Postpartum Body Composition and Early Breastfeeding Behaviours in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study.

AIMS: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder that increases the risk of maternal obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and adverse neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of insulin use, physical activity, and perceived breast milk insufficiency with postpartum body composition in mothers with GDM.

METHODS

A total of 190 mother-infant pairs (95 GDM, 95 healthy controls) from a tertiary care hospital were included. Maternal data were obtained by face-to-face interviews on postpartum day two, and perinatal data were retrieved from hospital records. Postpartum body composition was measured using a TANITA BC-730 bioelectrical impedance analyser.

RESULTS

Mothers with GDM had higher postpartum obesity prevalence, body fat percentage, visceral fat, and estimated metabolic age, and lower total body water than controls (p < 0.05). Their infants were born at a shorter gestational age and were more frequently large for gestational age and macrocephalic (p = 0.002 and p = 0.029). Anthropometric indices did not differ between insulin-treated and untreated GDM mothers. Regular physical activity during pregnancy, particularly among controls, was associated with a more favourable postpartum body composition. Early breastfeeding initiation was less common and formula supplementation more frequent in GDM mothers (p = 0.018 and p = 0.01). Perceived milk insufficiency was not linked to anthropometry.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers with GDM exhibited adverse postpartum body composition and less favourable early breastfeeding behaviours, whereas prenatal physical activity was associated with more favourable indices.