Breastfeeding Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Breastfeeding, including details on breast feeding benefits, problems, alcohol, diet.

Impact of an early weighing policy on neonatal hypernatraemic dehydration and breast feeding.

Iyer NP, Srinivasan R, Evans K, Ward L, Cheung WY, Matthes JW

Department of Child Health, Singleton Hospital, Swansea SA2 8QA, West Glamorgan, South Wales, UK. iyerprabhu@yahoo.co.in

AIMS: To ascertain the effect of a policy of early weighing on the detection and severity of neonatal hypernatraemic dehydration (NHD) and on breastfeeding rates in the short and medium term. METHODS: A policy of weighing infants at 72-96 h was introduced from 1 July 2004. Two time periods were studied: pre-policy and post-policy (18 months each). Babies <28 days of age referred to hospital from the community who, on investigation, had plasma sodium concentrations of >145 mmol/l were identified. Age, plasma sodium concentration, percentage loss of body weight at presentation, breastfeeding rates at discharge and at 8 weeks, and complications due to hypernatraemia or its management were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: 60 cases of NHD were identified: 23 before and 37 after introduction of the policy. After the policy, there was earlier recognition of NHD (median 3 vs 6 days), lower percentage weight loss (11% vs 15%), smaller increase in sodium (147 vs 150 mmol/l), and higher breastfeeding rate at discharge (73% vs 22%) and 8 weeks (57% vs 22%). All the differences were significant (p<0.01). There was one death in the pre-policy group, and none in the post-policy group. CONCLUSIONS: Weighing babies early coupled with appropriate lactation support resulted in the early recognition of NHD, with less dehydration, less severe hypernatraemia, and higher breastfeeding rates in the short and medium term.

Published 21 March 2008 in Arch Dis Child, 93(4): 297-9.
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Articles on Breastfeeding published 21 March 2008:

Does breastfeeding method influence infant weight gain?   Arch Dis Child, 93(4): 292-6.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of traditional and "baby-led" breastfeeding advice on early infant weight gain and exclusive breastfeeding rates. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study: part prospective, part retrospective. SETTING: One UK general practice. PARTICIPANTS: 63 exclusively breastfed infants in two cohorts: 32 babies born before and 31 babies born after a change in breastfeeding advice. INTERVENTION: A change from baby-led to traditional breastfeeding advice. MAIN OUTCOME ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Breastfeeding published 18 March 2008:

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Breast or bottle? Eating disordered childbearing women and infant-feeding decisions.   Matern Child Nutr, 4(2): 106-20.

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Methadone maintenance and long-term lactation.   Breastfeed Med, 3(1): 34-7.

Breastfeeding among methadone-maintained women is frequently challenged because of unclear guidelines regarding this practice. Previous research has confirmed that concentrations of methadone in breastmilk in the neonatal period are low. Currently unknown are the concentrations of methadone in breastmilk among women who breastfeed for longer periods of time. The purpose of this research is to examine concentrations of methadone in the plasma and breastmilk of women who breastfeed their infants ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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