Breastfeeding may be more challenging for infants later diagnosed with autism

Children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may be more likely to have problems breastfeeding than neurotypical children, according to a recent study.

Amy Campbell and colleagues interviewed 24 mothers of autistic children who had a history of breastfeeding difficulties in infancy. Each of the mothers also had breastfed a neurotypical child. Of the mothers, 23 reported that breastfeeding their neurotypical child was significantly easier than breastfeeding their child with ASD. Problems the mothers reported in breastfeeding their autistic children included difficulties in latching on to the breast, a lack of interest or effort on the child’s part, choking, gagging, weak sucking, a lack of hunger or an insatiable appetite, and behaviors suggestive of sensory sensitivity (such as pulling away from the breast).

The researchers note, “Sensory differences in autistic individuals [are] extremely common with tactile sensitivity being one of the most prominent elements affected…. Breastfeeding is highly tactile and puts into question whether these reported behaviors of backing off of the breast and never being content on the breast are early signs of tactile defensiveness.” In addition, they note, behaviors such as poor sucking, choking, or gagging could be related to poor muscle tone—a common issue in autism—while behaviors such as a lack of interest in breast feeding, an insistence on being positioned in a specific way, or insatiability could be early reflections of social deficits, ritualistic behaviors, or problems in retrospectively identifying hunger and satiation cues.

The researchers note that while some studies show an association between ASD and a smaller amount of time spent breastfeeding by mothers, “there is a paucity of qualitative data as to the reasons why mothers of an autistic child quit breastfeeding that would help explain in these studies why the breastfeeding duration was significantly decreased in autistic children.”

They conclude, “These findings warrant further study of these breastfeeding behaviors to ascertain how common these behaviors are in infants later diagnosed with autism and if they can be used to help identify early signs of autism. If found to be prevalent in infants later diagnosed with autism, they may be helpful for primary care providers and lactation consultants to be aware of when assessing infants during routine visits.”

Citations

Breastfeeding journeys: Comparing mothers’ experiences with autistic and neurotypical infants,” Amy A. Campbell, Julie Barroso, Mulubrhan Mogos, Amy Weitlauf, and Sharon M. Karp, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, December 19, 2024 (free online.) Address: Amy Campbell, [email protected].