Caesarean Delivery Influences Breast Milk Composition-A Narrative Review.

ABSTRACT: Delivery by caesarean section (CS) is increasingly common worldwide and has been associated with altered health outcomes in offspring, which can be partially mitigated with breastfeeding. Interestingly, the mode of delivery itself may influence the composition of human milk. The aim of this narrative review was to comprehensively examine current evidence on the impact of CS on breast milk composition and to discuss its potential implications for neonatal and infant health. A literature search of the MEDLINE database was conducted in July 2025. It identified 1212 studies addressing associations between mode of delivery and human milk components, of which 54 were included in the qualitative synthesis. Available evidence suggests that CS is associated with transient, lactation stage-dependent

SUBMITTER: Maj M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12844672 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature