Gestational anaemia does not impact upon breastfeeding outcomes

A 2025 study from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort (2011-2015) investigated women whose hameoglobin levels were available in the third trimester (n = 1088). Gestational anemia in the third trimester, defined as Hb < 110gm/l (n = 150), was not associated with duration or quality of breastfeeding.

Reference

Singh S, Van de Wouw M, Tomfohr-Madsen L. The role of green and blue spaces in perinatal maternal mental health outcomes during the transition to parenthood. Environment International. 2025;2025:109572.

Delayed secretory activation (often inaccurately referred to as delayed onset of lactation)

What is delayed secretory activation?

Delayed onset of lactation is a commonly used term, but is scientifically inaccurate, since lactation commences during pregnancy, with secretory differentiation. You can read about lactogenesis here. The more accurate term is delayed onset of secretory activation.

Delayed onset of secretory activation is independently associated with shorter breastfeeding duration. It is currently defined as the milk coming in later than 72 hours after delivery.

However, research has shown that secretory activation may occur up to five days postbirth in otherwise well women who go on to breastfeed successfully, and this tension between prevailing definitions and research findings need to be borne in mind by the clinician.

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Gestational anaemia does not impact upon breastfeeding outcomes

Reference

Delayed secretory activation (often inaccurately referred to as delayed onset of lactation)

What is delayed secretory activation?

How do…