A study that was recently published in Diabetes Care finds that babies who are born to mothers with gestational diabetes and are breastfed for six months or more may have reduced risk of obesity later in life. The study reviewed children of diabetic mothers up to the age of 10, and found that children who were not breastfed at least six months had much higher body mass indexes, thicker waists, and stored more fat in their abdomens than children who were breastfed at least six months.
Mothers with gestational diabetes benefit from breastfeeding, too, including decreased risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.
Study Abstract:
Long-Term Impact of Neonatal Breastfeeding on Childhood Adiposity and Fat Distribution Among Children Exposed to Diabetes In Utero
Breastfeeding Reduces Obesity Risk for Babies of Moms with Gestational Diabetes
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