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Published on: September 22, 2023
Does monitoring newborn weight discourage breast feeding?
A McKie1, D Young, P D MacDonald
1Neonatal Paediatric Dept, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Insights
Regular newborn weight monitoring and breastfeeding support did not negatively impact breastfeeding rates. This policy change showed no adverse effects on infant feeding practices in the studied population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Public health policy
- Infant nutrition
Background:
- A policy integrating regular neonatal weight monitoring with targeted breastfeeding support was implemented in 2000.
- This intervention aimed to assist infants exceeding specific thresholds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the new policy on breastfeeding rates.
- Assessing potential negative consequences of neonatal weight monitoring on breastfeeding.
Main Methods:
- Breastfeeding rates at 10 days and 6 weeks were compared between the intervention group and two control groups.
- Data from 1999 and 2001 were analyzed using Poisson regression and Z-tests.
- Deprivation-corrected breastfeeding rates were calculated.
Main Results:
- The intervention population experienced a 3.1% increase in breastfeeding at 6 weeks, while control groups saw a 0.8% increase.
- Multivariate analysis indicated that while deprivation negatively influenced breastfeeding, the intervention policy itself did not have a significant adverse effect.
- No statistically significant negative impact of the policy on breastfeeding rates was detected.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence that regular newborn weight monitoring adversely affects breastfeeding rates.
- The implemented policy, combining monitoring with breastfeeding support, did not compromise breastfeeding continuation.
- Findings suggest that such policies can be implemented without negatively impacting infant feeding outcomes.
Background:
A policy of regular neonatal weight monitoring was introduced to a geographically defined population in 2000. This was combined with targeted breast feeding support for infants reaching specified intervention thresholds.
Aims:
To look for evidence of compromise in breast feeding rates as a result of this policy change.
Methods:
Breast feeding rates at 10 days and 6 weeks were compared for this intervention population and two local non-intervention groups for the years 1999 and 2001. The data were analysed using Poisson regression analysis and the Z-test.
Results:
There was a 3.1% (95% CI 0.8% to 5.5%) rise in the deprivation corrected breast feeding rate at 6 weeks for the intervention population compared to an increase of 0.8% (95% CI -0.8% to 2.3%) for the combined control groups. Multivariate analysis showed that breast feeding rates were adversely influenced by deprivation, but were not significantly influenced by the intervention.
Conclusion:
No evidence was found to support claims that regular monitoring of newborn weight adversely affects breast feeding rates.
