Breastfeeding in term and preterm infants with and without growth restriction: A 50‐year analysis of incidence and duration

Breastfeeding rates and duration significantly increased over the past 50 years. However, both preterm birth and fetal growth restriction were associated with lower breastfeeding incidence and delayed initiation. Notably, being born SGA was independently linked to reduced breastfeeding, even after accounting for gestational age. While the association between prematurity and breastfeeding challenges is well established, our findings suggest that being born SGA may represent a similarly important but less widely recognized risk factor. This underlines the need for increased awareness and tailored breastfeeding support for this specific group.