Faculty Collaboration Database

Excessive weight loss in breastfed infants during the postpartum hospitalization. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2010;39(1):15-26

Date

04/23/2010

Pubmed ID

20409099

DOI

10.1111/j.1552-6909.2009.01085.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-73949110938 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   28 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in breastfeeding frequency, voids, and stools in infants with weight losses < or > or =7% during the postpartum hospitalization.

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a primary psychometric study examining the Mother Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool (MIBPT).

SETTING: A midwestern community hospital in a multicultural racially diverse community.

PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 53 breastfeeding women and infants hospitalized after birth.

METHODS: Data were collected during a chart review; infants were divided into < or > or =7% weight loss groups at 2 days postpartum, and breastfeeding frequency, voiding, and stooling were examined between groups and used to predict a > or =7% weight loss at 2 days postpartum.

RESULTS: Of the 53 infants, 20.8% lost > or =7% of their birth weight. Infants who lost > or =7% of their birth weight had significantly more total voids and a higher breastfeeding frequency on the day of birth than infants who lost <7% of their birth weight. A logistic regression analysis resulted in total voids being the only significant predictor of a > or =7% weight loss, with an odds ratio of 1.74 (95% CI=1.09, 2.75, p <; .05).

CONCLUSION: In the absence of other indicators of ineffective breastfeeding, breastfeeding infants who lose > or =7% of their birth weight during the first 2 days postpartum might be experiencing a physiologic diuresis after birth, unrelated to their breastfeeding behaviors. More research is necessary to determine the cause of a > or =7% weight loss in newborns during the first 48 hours after birth.

Author List

Mulder PJ, Johnson TS, Baker LC

Author

Teresa Johnson PhD Associate Professor in the Nursing department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Birth Weight
Breast Feeding
Chi-Square Distribution
Clinical Nursing Research
Diuresis
Feces
Female
Humans
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Infant, Newborn
Logistic Models
Male
Midwestern United States
Neonatal Nursing
Nursing Assessment
Pilot Projects
Postpartum Period
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Statistics, Nonparametric
Time Factors
Urination
Weight Loss