Breastfeeding After Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review of Prevalence and Associated Complications.

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding can be a vital component for maternal and infant health, but successful breastfeeding may be especially difficult for mothers with spinal cord injury (SCI). No reliable research on prevalence or complications associated with breastfeeding for mothers with SCI currently exists.

Methods: Our systematic review aimed to answer the following: (1) What are the breastfeeding rates in women after SCI? (2) What are the rates and nature of postpartum complications reported by women with SCI in conjunction with breastfeeding?

Results: Ten studies were included; the reported rates at which women with SCI were able to breastfeed varied widely, ranging from 11% to 100%. Generally speaking, women with higher-level SCI (above T6) were less likely to breastfeed and would breastfeed less frequently than women with lower-level SCI and less frequently than women without SCI. Complications reported included problems with the let-down reflex, autonomic dysreflexia, and a higher incidence of postpartum depression in women with SCI.

Conclusion: More research on mothers with SCI is needed, especially matched-control research comparing mothers with and without SCI on successful breastfeeding and associated complications.