Addressing Maternal Cardiovascular Risk: The Impact of Lactation, Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, and Racial Disparities

Division

North Texas

Hospital

Medical City Arlington

Document Type

Manuscript

Publication Date

10-30-2025

Keywords

Adverse pregnancy outcomes, Breastfeeding, Cardiovascular disease, Lactation, Underrepresented racial and ethnic women, Women's health

Disciplines

Cardiovascular Diseases | Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications | Maternal and Child Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Pregnancy functions as a cardiopulmonary stress test, revealing underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD) or heightening future CVD risk following adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). Studies consistently demonstrate strong associations between APOs, higher mortality rates, and increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases in women from racial and ethnic underrepresented groups (UREG). Social determinants of health, particularly in UREGs, contribute to increasing allostatic load, potentially driving poorer pregnancy outcomes. Breastfeeding has a protective effect on allostatic load and is linked to improved maternal cardiometabolic health. In the United States, UREGs have lower rates of breastfeeding initiation, retention, and duration-potentially influenced by both cultural factors and systemic biases within healthcare. Interventions must extend beyond healthcare settings to engage key stakeholders, including community leaders and families, to create sustainable change and reduce disparities. As maternal CVD prevalence rises among UREG populations, a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to improving breastfeeding rates is essential to improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

Publisher or Conference

American Heart Journal Plus: Cardiology Research and Practice

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