Effect of breast-feeding frequency on hyperbilirubinemia in breast-fed term neonate
Ying-Juang Chen1, Tsu-Fu Yeh2, Chung-Ming Chen1,2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Medical University Hospital.
Insights
Frequent breastfeeding, encouraged through nursery discharge instructions, significantly reduces hyperbilirubinemia in newborns. This practice also supports healthy infant bodyweight gain.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Hyperbilirubinemia is common in newborns, often associated with reduced bodyweight gain post-discharge.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing neonatal jaundice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if nursery discharge instructions promoting frequent breastfeeding impact infant bodyweight gain.
- To determine the effect of enhanced breastfeeding guidance on hyperbilirubinemia incidence.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 98 term neonates receiving outpatient follow-up within two weeks of birth were studied.
- Parents recorded breastfeeding and diaper change frequency post-discharge.
- Neonates were grouped based on breastfeeding frequency (≥8 times/day vs. <8 times/day).
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding frequency strongly correlated with diaper change frequency, indicating data reliability.
- No significant differences in gestational age, Apgar scores, or birthweights were observed between groups.
- Neonates breastfed 8 or more times daily showed a significantly lower incidence of hyperbilirubinemia.
Conclusions:
- Nursery discharge instructions emphasizing frequent breastfeeding are effective in reducing hyperbilirubinemia rates.
- This intervention supports healthy outcomes for exclusively breastfed term neonates.
Background:
Hyperbilirubinemic neonates have significantly less bodyweight gain from nursery discharge to outpatient department (OPD) follow up. We tested the hypothesis that discharge instructions encouraging frequent breast-feeding given in the nursery would increase infant bodyweight gain and decrease the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia.
Methods:
We enrolled consecutively live-born neonates who were discharged from the nursery and who received OPD follow up within the first 2 weeks of birth in 2011. The nursing staff discussed the discharge instructions with the parents at the time of nursery discharge. Parents were asked to fill in a nursing information form to record the frequency of breast-feeding and diaper change per day.
Results:
Parents of 98 breast-fed term neonates provided complete nursing information forms. These 98 neonates were classified into two groups according to breast-feeding frequency, namely <8 times/day (63 neonates) and ≥8 times/day (35 neonates). A significant positive correlation between breast-feeding frequency and diaper change frequency per day indicated that the data were highly reliable. The gestational age, Apgar score, birthweight, and bodyweight at nursery discharge and at OPD were similar between the two groups. Neonates who were breast-fed ≥8 times/day had a significantly lower incidence of hyperbilirubinemia.
Conclusions:
Nursery discharge instructions that encouraged mothers to breast-feed their newborns frequently decreased the rate of hyperbilirubinemia in exclusively breast-fed term neonates.
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