Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with long-term cardiometabolic risk in mothers, yet postpartum metabolic characteristics remain incompletely described. A cross-sectional study published in Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews evaluated postpartum body composition and early breastfeeding behaviors in mothers with GDM compared with healthy controls.

The analysis included 190 mother–infant pairs (95 with GDM and 95 controls) recruited from a tertiary care hospital. Maternal characteristics were obtained through face-to-face interviews on postpartum day two, while perinatal data were retrieved from hospital records. Postpartum body composition was assessed using a TANITA BC-730 bioelectrical impedance analyzer. The analysis also examined associations of insulin use during pregnancy, prenatal physical activity, and perceived breast milk insufficiency with maternal postpartum anthropometric indices.

The results showed that mothers with GDM had higher postpartum obesity prevalence, greater body fat percentage, higher visceral fat, and higher estimated metabolic age, along with lower total body water, compared with controls (p < 0.05). Infants born to mothers with GDM had shorter gestational age at birth and were more frequently large for gestational age and macrocephalic (p = 0.002 and p = 0.029). Anthropometric indices did not differ between insulin-treated and untreated GDM mothers.

Regular prenatal physical activity was associated with more favorable postpartum body composition indices, particularly among controls. Early breastfeeding initiation occurred less frequently in mothers with GDM, while formula supplementation was more common (p = 0.018 and p = 0.01). Perceived breast milk insufficiency was not associated with anthropometric measures. These findings indicate differences in postpartum body composition and early feeding behaviors among mothers with GDM.