Patterns of postpartum depot medroxyprogesterone administration among low-income mothers

BACKGROUND

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is often administered immediately postpartum to reduce the risk of short-interval repeat or unintended pregnancies, but little is known about the actual patterns of postpartum DMPA use. This article examines the patterns of DMPA administered among low-income new mothers in an upstate New York State community.

METHODS

Mothers attending urban pediatric practices (births 2009-2011) completed a mailed survey approximately 5 months after delivery. Among 83 survey items were questions about breastfeeding and timing of DMPA receipt.

RESULTS

Unintended pregnancy was reported by 48.8% of the subjects. Their deliveries occurred across four local hospitals. Among the 31.3% of subjects who received postpartum DMPA, 62.6% received it prior to hospital discharge. Those receiving in-hospital DMPA (n=127) were significantly more likely than other mothers to be black, older, urban dwelling, non-high school graduates, multiparous, and planning to formula feed. Administration patterns differed by hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

This study of postpartum DMPA administration among a convenience sample of low-income mothers demonstrated rates of 26% overall, but there was between-hospital variability. Additional study may identify approaches to ensure timely administration to appropriate candidates.

Labor epidural anesthesia, obstetric factors and breastfeeding cessation

Breastfeeding benefits both infant and maternal health. Use of epidural anesthesia during labor is increasingly common and may interfere with breastfeeding. Studies analyzing epidural anesthesia's association with breastfeeding outcomes show mixed results; many have methodological flaws. We analyzed potential associations between epidural anesthesia and overall breast-feeding cessation within 30 days postpartum while adjusting for standard and novel covariates and uniquely accounting for labor induction. A pooled analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves and modified Cox Proportional Hazard models included 772 breastfeeding mothers from upstate New York who had vaginal term births of healthy singleton infants. Subjects were drawn from two cohort studies (recruited postpartum between 2005 and 2008) and included maternal self-report and maternal and infant medical record data. Analyses of potential associations between epidural anesthesia and overall breastfeeding cessation within 1 month included additional covariates and uniquely accounted for labor induction. After adjusting for standard demographics and intrapartum factors, epidural anesthesia significantly predicted breastfeeding cessation (hazard ratio 1.26 [95% confidence interval 1.10, 1.44], p < 0.01) as did hospital type, maternal age, income, education, planned breastfeeding goal, and breastfeeding confidence. In post hoc analyses stratified by Baby Friendly Hospital (BFH) status, epidural anesthesia significantly predicted breastfeeding cessation (BFH: 1.19 [1.01, 1.41], p < 0.04; non-BFH: 1.65 [1.31, 2.08], p < 0.01). A relationship between epidural anesthesia and breastfeeding was found but is complex and involves institutional, clinical, maternal and infant factors. These findings have implications for clinical care and hospital policies and point to the need for prospective studies.

The effect of immediate postpartum depot medroxyprogesterone on early breastfeeding cessation

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the effect of immediate postpartum depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) on breastfeeding cessation within 6 weeks postpartum.

STUDY DESIGN

At low-income-serving obstetric and pediatric clinics, eligible mothers within 1 year postpartum were recruited to participate in a retrospective cohort study. The 183 participants completed a self-administered survey. Surveys were merged with birth certificate data and perinatal maternal/infant medical records. Kaplan-Meier distributions assessed the relationship between DMPA use and breastfeeding cessation. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and included five known risk factors (age, education, race, parity and parental cohabitation) and identified potential confounders.

RESULTS

Consistent with the biologic model, the Kaplan-Meier results raised the possibility of a detrimental effect of DMPA on duration of any breastfeeding, but differences in these distributions did not achieve statistical significance (p=.24); after adjustment for potential confounders, this nonstatistically significant association remained (HR: 1.22; confidence interval: 0.75-1.98).

CONCLUSION

Given the state of the evidence, it is unclear whether a causal effect does or does not exist. However, if there is a causal effect of DMPA on breastfeeding duration, it is minimal. Additional well-designed research is warranted.

Breastfeeding triumphs

The Renaissance of breastfeeding is at hand. With the energy of an epidemic and the passion of a crusade, breastfeeding has become the norm for infant feeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have affirmed breastfeeding's value to public health. Strong organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Association of Family Practice, and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine have confirmed the value of human milk. The discussion is over. Leading the charge is an eclectic group of health professionals and women, but the cause cannot rest. Efforts to change hospital behavior are key, but the support for mother-baby couples at home for the weeks and months that follow has just begun. Duration is the challenge. Employment and employers comprise one arm of the campaign. The other arms of the effort are under construction. Now is a time to move ahead, not rest on past achievement.

Delayed onset lactogenesis II predicts the cessation of any or exclusive breastfeeding

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between delayed lactogenesis II (>3 days postpartum; delayed onset lactogenesis II [DLII]) and the cessation of any and exclusive breastfeeding at 4-weeks postpartum.

STUDY DESIGN

We constructed multivariable logistic regression models using data from 2491 mothers enrolled in the prospective Infant Feeding Practice Study II cohort. Models included DLII, known risk factors for breastfeeding cessation (age, education, race, parity/previous breastfeeding, and exclusive breastfeeding plan), and potential confounders identified in bivariate analyses (P ≤ .1). Backward selection processes (P ≤ .1) determined risk factor retention in the final model.

RESULTS

DLII was associated with cessation of any and exclusive breastfeeding at 4-weeks postpartum (OR 1.62; CI 1.14-2.31; OR 1.62; CI 1.18-2.22, respectively); numerous independent risk factors qualified for inclusion in the multivariable model(s) and were associated with the outcome(s) of interest (eg, supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children enrollment, onset of prenatal care, feeding on-demand, time initiated first breastfeed, hospital rooming-in, obstetric provider preference for exclusive breastfeeding, and maternal tobacco use).

CONCLUSIONS

Women experiencing DLII may be less able to sustain any and/or exclusive breastfeeding in the early postpartum period. Routine assessment of DLII in postpartum breastfeeding follow-up is warranted. Women with DLII may benefit from additional early postpartum interventions to support favorable breastfeeding outcomes.