Newborn Weight Loss as a Predictor of Persistence of Exclusive Breastfeeding up to 6 Months

• Main Authors: Enrica Delfino (Author), Luca Peano (Author), Roberto Giorgio Wetzl (Author), Maria Lorella Giannì (Author), Roberta Netto (Author), Alessandra Consales (Author), Maria Enrica Bettinelli (Author), Daniela Morniroli (Author), Francesca Vielmi (Author), Fabio Mosca (Author), Luca Montagnani (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between neonatal weight loss and persistence of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months.Study DesignAn observational cohort study in the setting of a Baby Friendly Hospital, enrolling 1,260 healthy term dyads. Neonatal percentage of weight loss was collected between 48 and 72 h from birth. Using a questionnaire, all mothers were asked on the phone what the infant's mode of feeding at 10 days, 42 days and 6 months (≥183 days) from birth were. The persistence of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months and the occurrence of each event that led to the interruption of exclusive breastfeeding were verified through a logistic analysis that included 40 confounders.ResultsInfants with a weight loss ≥7% were exclusively breastfed at 6 months in a significantly lower percentage of cases than infants with a weight loss <7% (95% CI 0.563 to 0.734, p < 0.001). Weight loss ≥7% significantly increases the occurrence of either sporadic integration with formula milk (95% CI 0.589 to 0.836, p < 0.001), complementary feeding (95% CI 0.460 to 0.713, p < 0.001), exclusive formula feeding (95% CI 0.587 to 0.967, p < 0.001) or weaning (95% CI 0.692 to 0.912, p = 0.02) through the first 6 months of life.ConclusionsWith the limitations of a single-center study, a weight loss ≥7% in the first 72 h after birth appears to be a predictor of an early interruption of exclusive breastfeeding before the recommended 6 months in healthy term exclusively breastfed newborns.

Item Description

2296-2360
10.3389/fped.2022.871595