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A Retrospective Study Identifying Breast Milk Feeding Disparities in Infants with Cleft Palate
Insights
Breast milk feeding is infrequent in infants with cleft palate, impacting their growth. This study highlights low breast milk consumption and suggests growth below normative standards in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Craniofacial Anomalies
- Infant Growth
Background:
- Breast milk is optimal for infant nutrition, including those with cleft palate.
- Infants with cleft palate may experience compromised growth.
- Optimal nutrition is crucial for infants with complex medical needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of breast milk feeding in infants with cleft palate.
- To compare breast milk feeding rates with national statistics.
- To review the growth status of infants with cleft palate.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of electronic medical records over 5 years.
- Inclusion of infants ≤12 months old with cleft palate diagnosis.
- Analysis of breast milk use and anthropometric data (weight-for-age, weight-for-length z scores).
Main Results:
- Breast milk consumption was 29.5%, significantly lower than national rates (81%).
- Only 26 infants were breastfed directly; 84 received human milk via devices.
- Weight-for-age and weight-for-length z scores were below normative standards (-0.95 and -0.42, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Infants with cleft palate are infrequently breastfed, and breast milk use is low.
- Growth indicators for infants with cleft palate suggest they fall below established standards.
- Interventions may be needed to promote breast milk feeding in this vulnerable population.
Background:
Breast milk represents the optimal substrate for all infants, including those with a cleft palate for whom growth may be compromised.
Objectives:
Frequency of breast milk feeding at the breast and per feeder (bottle, cup, enteral tube) in infants with cleft palate was determined and compared with rates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A secondary aim was to review growth status of the infants.
Design:
This study represents a 5-year retrospective review using the electronic medical record.
Participants And Setting:
Patients were ≤12 months old at the time of the initial, presurgical encounter after a diagnosis of cleft palate had been made and were treated at one of two pediatric cleft palate and craniofacial centers in Ohio between September 30, 2010, and September 30, 2015.
Main Outcome Measures:
Outcomes measured were breast milk use, reported by mothers and documented in patients' electronic medical records, chronological body weight, as well as weight for length and weight-for-age z scores and percentiles.
Statistical Analyses Performed:
Descriptive statistics included median with interquartile range and frequency with percentages. World Health Organization z scores were estimated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programs for weight, weight for length, and weight for age at first visit. Comparisons of infants treated at the two hospitals were done using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test or the χ2 test.
Results:
Breast milk consumption (26 infants were breastfed and 84 received human breast milk administered with a device) was 29.5%, markedly below the 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention national statistics for ever receiving breast milk (81%). Anthropometric findings included z scores of -0.95 and -0.42 for weight for age and weight for length, respectively.
Conclusions:
Infants with cleft palate were seldom breastfed, nor was breast milk frequently used. In addition, median weight-for-age and weight-for-length z scores suggest that growth of infants with cleft palate was below normative standards.
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