Effect of breast-feeding on weight retention at 3 and 6 months postpartum: Data from the North Carolina WIC Programme

Abstract

Objective Pregnancy-related weight retention can contribute to obesity, and breast-feeding may facilitate postpartum weight loss. We investigated the effect of breast-feeding on postpartum weight retention.Design A retrospective follow-up study of weight retention, compared in women who were fully breast-feeding, combining breast-feeding with formula-feeding (mixed feeding), or formula-feeding at 3 months (n 14 330) or 6 months (n 4922) postpartum, controlling for demographic and weight-related covariates using multiple linear regression.Setting The North Carolina Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).Subjects Participants in the North Carolina WIC Programme who delivered a baby between 1996 and 2004.Results In covariate-adjusted analyses, there was no association between breast-feeding and weight retention at 3 months postpartum. At 6 months postpartum, as compared to formula-feeders, mean weight retention was 084 kg lower in mixed feeders (95 % CI 039, 129; P = 00002) and 138 kg lower in full breast-feeders (95 % CI 089, 187; P 00001).Conclusions Breast-feeding was inversely associated with weight retention at 6 months postpartum in this large, racially diverse sample of low-income women. Further, full breast-feeding had a larger protective effect than did breast-feeding combined with formula-feeding. Copyright © 2010 The Authors.