Title:Effect of Vaginal Delivery on Lactose Content of Human Milk
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Author(s): Leila Zeynali, Roghaiyeh Nourizadeh, Azizeh Farshbaf Khalili, Mohammadbagher Hosseini, Assef Khalili and Sevil Hakimi*
Affiliation:
- Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Research Center
of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
Keywords:
Lactose, macronutrients, mature human milk, vaginal delivery, pregnancy, breast milk.
Abstract:
Objective: The macronutrients of human milk are considered essential nutritional
sources in the first few months of a newborn’s life. The present study aimed to investigate the effect
of delivery mode on the macronutrients of human milk.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 102 women who gave birth by cesarean
section or vaginal delivery between September 2019 and November 2019. The participants were
requested to provide their milk samples on day 15 ± 1 after childbirth.
Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups (cesarean and vaginal delivery)
regarding the sociodemographic characteristics and intake of fat, carbohydrate, protein, and energy.
The lactose level was significantly higher in women who gave birth by vaginal delivery (adjusted
mean difference, 1.2 (95 % CI 0.02- 1.82)). For other macronutrients, there were no statistically
significant differences between the two groups.
Conclusion: The vaginal delivery might influence the mature milk lactose level.
