2010 - International Lactation Consultant Association

Results: Between 2007-2009, the number of bag free US hospitals increased from 282 to 367,
(9% to 12%). Texas saw the largest increase, from 3 (1%) to 16 (6%). Oregon had the greatest
proportional increase, from 33% to 59%. In 10 states, >25% of hospitals are now bag free; in 3
states, >50% of hospitals are bag free. Seven states have no bag free hospitals. The 10 states
with the greatest number of bag free sites in 2007 saw a 10% increase in sites by 2009, but the
10 states with the fewest sites in 2007 had 85 years, or had missing lactation history or
number of births, cardiovascular disease, or used antihypertensive medication, leaving 18 543
women for analysis. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed in general linear models
and by logistic regression according to categories of lifetime duration of lactation. The results
were adjusted for age, smoking, education and physical activity.
Results: Lactation was inversely associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p for trend
< 0.001). Women who had never lactated had 4.2 mmHg (95% CI, 2.7 to 5.7) higher systolic
blood pressure and 2.9 mmHg (95% CI, 2.0 to 3.8) higher diastolic blood pressure than the
reference group of women who had breastfed ≥24 months. A similar comparison showed that
the prevalence of hypertension was higher among those who had never lactated (OR 1.55; 95%
CI, 1.28 to 1.88).
Conclusion: Decreased lifetime duration of lactation was inversely associated with systolic and
diastolic blood pressure, and with a higher prevalence of hypertension. Breastfeeding may thus
influence women’s future cardiovascular disease risk.
BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TRIAL FOR OBESE WOMEN: EFFECTS OF A
SPECIALIZED PEER COUNSELING INTERVENTION ON BREASTFEEDING AND HEALTH
OUTCOMES