Course Name
Clinical Improvement Project II CAPSTONE
Graduation Year
8-2026
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Rae Charos
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases a mother's risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) later in life and can affect an infant's future health. Breastfeeding can help improve a mother's blood sugar control and may lower her future risk of diabetes, but many mothers with GDM do not know about these benefits. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated a standardized education program on breastfeeding and diabetes prevention for postpartum mothers with GDM at the Family Birthing Center at St. Joseph's Medical Center (SJMC) in Stockton, California. The intervention included a 10- to 15-minute education session and an evidence-based educational pamphlet that explained the benefits of breastfeeding, ways to reduce the risk of diabetes after pregnancy, available breastfeeding support resources, and the importance of completing a postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Data were collected through pre- and post-education surveys and a 10-week follow-up phone survey. Fourteen participants completed the education session and showed improved knowledge about breastfeeding, increased confidence, greater awareness of breastfeeding resources, and increased comfort asking healthcare providers questions. At the 10-week follow-up, most participants reported they were still breastfeeding, and many had completed or planned to complete the recommended postpartum OGTT. This project showed that a brief, standardized education session can improve breastfeeding knowledge and increase awareness of diabetes prevention after pregnancy while encouraging healthy behaviors beyond the hospital stay. Future quality improvement projects should include more participants, multiple clinical sites, educational materials in different languages, and longer follow-up periods to better evaluate breastfeeding continuation and postpartum diabetes prevention outcomes.
Keywords
gestational diabetes mellitus, breastfeeding, postpartum education, diabetes prevention, quality improvement, oral glucose tolerance test, maternal health
Recommended Citation
Soria, Jesse A. Jr; Smith, Sarah; Nolan Smith, Audrey; and Kosier, Keeley, "From Birth to Better Health: Educating Mothers with Gestational Diabetes on Breastfeeding Benefits and Glucose Management" (2026). ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works. 47.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/nursing-portfolios/47
