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Nutrients
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Breastfeeding and Maternal Health Outcomes
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Breastfeeding and Maternal Health Outcomes

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition in Women".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2025 | Viewed by 2500

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Alfred Längler

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health, Witten Herdecke University and Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke, 58313 Herdecke, Germany
Interests: nutrition; breastfeeding; bonding; integrative medicine; pediatrics; pediatric oncology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Breastfeeding is the natural form of nutrition for all newborns. The health benefits of breastfeeding or breast milk nutrition for premature babies and newborns are significant and have been proven in a large number of original studies. Almost none of the outcomes examined correlate negatively with breastfeeding. But the breastfeeding woman also has significant health benefits in addition to emotional benefits. Despite all the known benefits of breast milk nutrition for both mother and child, breastfeeding rates remain very low in many countries, especially in Western countries. This Special Issue is intended to provide a platform for current research results (original work and reviews) on maternal outcomes in breastfeeding. Of course, both positive and, if available, negative health outcomes in breastfeeding women should be investigated. All forms of original work are welcome, with a particular emphasis on prospective controlled investigations.

Prof. Dr. Alfred Längler
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • breastfeeding
  • health benefits
  • newborn
  • lactating women
  • human milk
  • mother–child bonding

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Infant Feeding Challenges in the First Six Months: Influencing Factors, Consequences, and Strategies for Maternal Support
by Karolina Krupa-Kotara, Jarosław Markowski and Mateusz Grajek
Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17061070 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 712
Abstract
Introduction: The first six months of an infant’s life are crucial for the child’s physical and psychological development. During this period, maternal feeding practices significantly impact infant nutrition and growth. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with feeding difficulties [...] Read more.
Introduction: The first six months of an infant’s life are crucial for the child’s physical and psychological development. During this period, maternal feeding practices significantly impact infant nutrition and growth. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with feeding difficulties in infants younger than six months. Methods: The study was conducted using a CAWI method. The study group consisted of 555 mothers who completed an online questionnaire about demographics, feeding methods, and feeding difficulties experienced, measured using the Montreal Children’s Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS). Infant feeding methods were clearly distinguished as direct breastfeeding, breast milk feeding (expressed milk), and formula feeding. Statistical analyses included effect sizes (Cohen’s d) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: In the study group, 65% of mothers reported feeding difficulties. Significant predictors of feeding difficulties included maternal overweight and obesity (p = 0.041; Cohen’s d = 0.37, 95% CI [0.15, 0.59]), lower maternal education (p = 0.014; Cohen’s d = 0.45, 95% CI [0.22, 0.68]), lack of adequate partner support (38%), and the use of mixed feeding methods (mean difference = 4.4 points, p = 0.027; Cohen’s d = 0.46, 95% CI [0.23, 0.69]). Conclusions: Feeding difficulties during infancy are common and influenced by maternal health and sociodemographic factors. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted educational resources and lactation support interventions tailored specifically to mothers at increased risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breastfeeding and Maternal Health Outcomes)
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15 pages, 501 KiB  
Article
Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Breastfeeding Periods in a Cohort of Spanish Primiparous Pregnant Women
by Cristina Bouzas, Eva Pilar López-García, Mercedes Sánchez-Martínez, Josep A. Tur and Rosario Pastor
Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4086; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234086 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1470
Abstract
Aims: To assess factors associated with the prevalence of breastfeeding in a cohort of Spanish primiparous pregnant women to whom a health education program was applied. Methods: Prospective, descriptive, and inferential cohort analysis with data obtained from the beginning of pregnancy to the [...] Read more.
Aims: To assess factors associated with the prevalence of breastfeeding in a cohort of Spanish primiparous pregnant women to whom a health education program was applied. Methods: Prospective, descriptive, and inferential cohort analysis with data obtained from the beginning of pregnancy to the child’s year. Prevalence of breastfeeding was classified into periods or categories: (1) “non-breastfeeding”; (2) “breastfeeding until 6 months”; (3) “breastfeeding up to 12 months”. The sample was 288 primiparous pregnant women divided into two groups of equal size using as a matching strategy whether they attended the health education sessions with or without an informal caregiver (mother, partner, sister): group A (primiparous women who attended the sessions without an informal caregiver; n = 144) and group B (primiparous women who attended the sessions with an informal caregiver; n = 144). Results: The best-associated variables with the prevalence of breastfeeding were age, vitamin B12 variation (postintervention—preintervention), and informal caregiver intervention. This association was statistically significant for breastfeeding up to 12 months of age compared to non-breastfeeding (age (p = 0.007); vitamin B12 variation (p = 0.010); caregiver intervention (p = 0.008)). The younger the breastfeeding woman, the greater the probability of breastfeeding up to 12 months (β: −0.246 (0.91); OR: 0.782 (0.654–0.935)). The greater the increase in vitamin B12 after the educational intervention program, the greater the probability of breastfeeding up to 12 months (β: 0.007 (0.003); OR: 1.007 (1.002–1.012)). The absence of an informal caregiver decreased the likelihood that breastfeeding would be maintained until the child’s 12 months (β: −0.734 (1.024); OR: 0.065 (0.009–0.483)). Conclusions: The prevalence of breastfeeding up to 12 months, in a cohort of Spanish primiparous women, increased the higher increase in vitamin B12 levels after applying an educational intervention program to promote breastfeeding. The prevalence of breastfeeding up to 12 months also increased with the presence of the informal caregiver and in young women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breastfeeding and Maternal Health Outcomes)
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