High blood pressure during pregnancy—also known as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP)—is a serious health issue that affects about 1 in 6 pregnancies in the U.S. Conditions like chronic or gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia not only raise the risk of complications during pregnancy but can also lead to long-term problems like heart disease, stroke, and kidney issues.
These health risks are especially common among Black and Native American women.
A new study from Yale University suggests that HDP may also make it harder for women to breastfeed.
The researchers found that women diagnosed with high blood pressure before or during pregnancy were less likely to start breastfeeding.
And among those who did, they were more likely to stop earlier than women without HDP. These findings were based on data from more than 200,000 women across the U.S., collected through a national survey called PRAMS.
Lead author Dr. Deanna Nardella explained that the team looked at whether women with HDP ever started breastfeeding and how long they kept it up.
Women with HDP had an 11% higher chance of never starting and were 17% more likely to stop breastfeeding early. On average, they breastfed for 17 weeks less than those without HDP.
There are many reasons why women stop breastfeeding earlier than planned. Common issues include pain, trouble with the baby’s latch, low milk supply, and lack of support or time off work. Although 83% of women in the U.S. begin breastfeeding, only 25% continue to do so exclusively for the recommended six months.
These findings raise important questions. Why does high blood pressure in pregnancy affect breastfeeding? More research is needed, but the study points to a real need for extra support for these women—especially during pregnancy, when most breastfeeding education is still missing.
Dr. Nardella emphasized that better support systems could help women with HDP reach their breastfeeding goals. Ideas include giving them access to prenatal lactation consultations and follow-up care after birth.
This kind of support could be especially helpful for Black and Native women, who face both higher rates of HDP and lower rates of breastfeeding.
Professor Sarah Taylor, a co-author of the study, said these results highlight a bigger issue: most families in the U.S. want to breastfeed, but many fall short of their goals.
Helping women with HDP through targeted strategies could not only improve breastfeeding outcomes but also protect their long-term health and the health of their babies.
