Ohio University study finds high blood pressure before pregnancy linked to shorter breastfeeding duration

A new study from researchers at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has found that women who have high blood pressure before becoming pregnant are less likely to breastfeed for at least three months and are more likely to stop breastfeeding earlier compared to women without high blood pressure.

The study, recently published in Breastfeeding Medicine, looked at data from more than 127,000 women across the United States using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System collected between 2016 and 2022. Researchers wanted to better understand how prepregnancy hypertension, or high blood pressure diagnosed before pregnancy, may influence breastfeeding practices.

While previous studies have shown a connection between high blood pressure during pregnancy and breastfeeding, this research is among the first to focus on high blood pressure preconception. To isolate this effect, the analysis study excluded women who developed high blood pressure during pregnancy.

The findings showed that about 71 percent of women in the study breastfed for at least three months. However, women who had high blood pressure before pregnancy were significantly less likely to reach that three-month mark. About 66 percent of women with prepregnancy hypertension breastfed for at least three months, compared to nearly 72 percent of women without the condition.

Even after accounting for other factors that can affect breastfeeding, women with prepregnancy high blood pressure were still less likely to breastfeed for three months or longer. They were also more likely to stop breastfeeding earlier than women without high blood pressure.

“Our findings suggest that health conditions that exist before pregnancy can have a real impact on breastfeeding success,” said Zelalem T. Haile, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology at the Heritage College and a co-author of the study. “This highlights the importance of identifying and managing high blood pressure before pregnancy, not only to improve pregnancy outcomes but also to support breastfeeding.”

The research team emphasized that breastfeeding provides important health benefits for both infants and mothers, including improved immune protection for babies and reduced risk of certain chronic diseases for mothers.

The study was led by researchers from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and included co-authors Nourhan Mohamed, Sravya Walker, and Ifa Abduljelil, all graduates of the Heritage College, as well as Dorcas Mgadla, who recently earned a Master of Global Health degree from Ohio University’s College of Health Sciences and Professions.

Researchers say the results support the need for stronger preconception care, which focuses on improving health before pregnancy begins. By identifying and treating high blood pressure early, health care providers may be able to help more women breastfeed longer and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies.

The authors hope this research will encourage further studies and inform public health programs aimed at supporting women’s health before, during and after pregnancy.