Exclusive breastfeeding frequency during the first seven days of life in term neonates

SUMMARY The study evaluated the effect of frequent suckling on neonatal serum bilirubin level, weight gain and passage of meconium in exclusively breastfed (Ebfed) neonates in the first week of lactation. These variables were investigated for 358 healthy full-term, EBfed Nigerian newborn, delivered vaginally without complications at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in their first week of life. Their maternal breast problems and time of achievement of let-down reflex were also evaluated. Mothers nursed their newborns on the average of 13.3 + 1.6 times in the first 24 hours. This non-significantly decreased to 13.1 + 1.2 by the 7th day. Significant positive correlations were found between the frequency of EBfing and passage of meconium in the first 24 hours of life ( r = 0.41, p < 0.05), and weight gain by day 7 ( r = 0.34, p<0.001). Inverse relationship was observed between frequency of suckling and neonatal serum bilirubin level on days 3 and 7 (r = -.13 and -.15), time of achievement of maternal let-down reflex ( r = -.43) and their breast problems (r = -.38), P values < 0.05. We therefore concluded that frequent suckling during EBfing has beneficial health effect on both the mother and her newborn in the first week of lactation. BG.