University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Foundation for Maternal, Infant, and Lactation Knowledge, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Int Breastfeed J. 2022 Jan 4;17(1):4. doi: 10.1186/s13006-021-00442-9.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a rare genetic connective tissue condition that is poorly understood in relation to lactation. As diagnostic methods improve, prevalence has increased. EDS, a disorder that impacts connective tissue, is characterized by skin extensibility, joint hypermobility, and fragile tissue which can affect every organ and body system leading to complications during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. Traits of this disease can cause mild to severe physiologic and functional obstacles during lactation. Unfortunately, there is little clinical evidence and minimal guidance for lactation management, and providers may feel uncomfortable and hesitant to address these concerns with patients due to a lack of readily available resources on the subject and inexperience with such patients. This narrative review describes and discusses the types of EDS, identifying symptoms, considerations, and precautions for care providers to implement during lactation and breastfeeding.
An electronic search of relevant citations was conducted using the databases Cochrane, PubMed, and Google Scholar from 1 January 2000 to 1 November 2021. Search terms used were Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Hypermobility Syndrome, breastfeeding, lactation, breastmilk expression, breastmilk collection, human milk expression, human milk collection, and infant feeding. The search of these databases yielded zero results. As no research articles on EDS were directly related to lactation, this narrative review includes articles found that related to the health of mothers relevant to maternal function during lactation.
For the healthcare provider, identifying characteristics of EDS can improve the management of lactation challenges. Mothers may experience generalized symptoms from gastrointestinal distress to fatigue or chronic pain, while they also may suffer from more specific joint complaints and injuries, such as dislocations / subluxations, or skin fragility. Such obstacles can generate impediments to breastfeeding and create unique challenges for breastfeeding mothers with EDS. Unfortunately, new mothers with these symptoms may have them overlooked or not addressed, impacting a mother's ability to meet her breastfeeding intentions. While there are some published research manuscripts on EDS and pregnancy, there is a lack of information regarding breastfeeding and lactation. Additional research is needed to help guide EDS mothers to achieve their breastfeeding intentions.
埃勒斯-当洛斯综合征（EDS）是一种罕见的遗传性结缔组织疾病，其与哺乳的关系尚未得到充分理解。随着诊断方法的改进，其患病率有所增加。EDS 是一种影响结缔组织的疾病，其特征是皮肤延展性、关节过度活动和脆弱组织，这可能会影响到每个器官和身体系统，导致妊娠、分娩和产后期间出现并发症。这种疾病的特征可能会导致哺乳期出现轻度至重度生理和功能障碍。不幸的是，关于哺乳管理的临床证据很少，指导也很少，由于缺乏关于该主题的现成资源和缺乏此类患者的经验，提供者可能会感到不舒服和犹豫，不愿与患者讨论这些问题。本叙述性综述描述并讨论了 EDS 的类型，确定了症状、注意事项和护理提供者在哺乳期和母乳喂养期间实施的预防措施。
使用 Cochrane、PubMed 和 Google Scholar 数据库对 2000 年 1 月 1 日至 2021 年 11 月 1 日的相关引文进行了电子检索。使用的搜索词是 Ehlers-Danlos 综合征、高活动性综合征、母乳喂养、哺乳、母乳表达、母乳收集、人乳表达、人乳收集和婴儿喂养。对这些数据库的搜索没有结果。由于没有直接与哺乳相关的 EDS 研究文章，因此本叙述性综述包括与母亲在哺乳期间的身体健康相关的母亲健康相关文章。
对于医疗保健提供者来说，识别 EDS 的特征可以改善对哺乳挑战的管理。母亲可能会出现从胃肠道不适到疲劳或慢性疼痛等全身性症状，同时她们也可能会遭受更具体的关节投诉和损伤，如脱位/半脱位或皮肤脆弱。这些障碍可能会阻碍母乳喂养，并为患有 EDS 的母乳喂养母亲带来独特的挑战。不幸的是，有这些症状的新妈妈可能会忽略或不解决这些症状，影响母亲实现母乳喂养的能力。虽然有一些关于 EDS 和妊娠的已发表研究手稿，但关于母乳喂养和哺乳的信息却很少。需要进一步的研究来帮助指导 EDS 母亲实现她们的母乳喂养意愿。
