The Relationship between Gestational Newborn Weight Loss and Hospitalization in the First Week after Birth
Linxiao Qiao1,2, Haiyan Zhang1,2, Yufeng Yuan1,2
1Department of Pediatrics, The First People's Hospital of Kunshan Affiliated to Jiangsu University, China.
Insights
Newborns with significant daily weight loss greater than 4% or total weight loss exceeding 10% face higher hospitalization risks. Monitoring infant weight loss is crucial for early intervention and preventing readmission.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric health
- Clinical research
Background:
- Postnatal infant weight loss is a common concern.
- Understanding risk factors for neonatal hospitalization is critical for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between daily weight loss in term infants and hospitalization within the first week after birth.
- To identify thresholds of infant weight loss that correlate with increased hospitalization rates.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study of 1865 term infants was conducted.
- Infants were categorized into three groups based on daily and total percentage of birth weight loss.
- Hospitalization incidence was the primary outcome measure.
Main Results:
- Infants in Group C (daily weight loss >4% or total loss >10%) had significantly higher hospitalization rates (30.6%) compared to Group A (12.1%) and Group B (12.5%).
- Exclusive breastfeeding rates were lower in Group C (28.4%) than in Group A (41%) and Group B (38.4%).
- Hospitalizations were primarily due to hyperbilirubinemia, dehydration fever, and hypoglycemia in Group C.
Conclusions:
- Term neonates experiencing substantial daily or total weight loss demonstrate a significantly increased risk of hospitalization.
- These findings underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring of infant weight loss in the early postnatal period.
- Identifying infants with excessive weight loss can guide targeted interventions to reduce neonatal hospital admissions.
Objective:
To investigate the association of weight loss daily of term infants with hospitalization in the first week after birth.
Methods:
This prospective cohort study was conducted among 1865 infants from May 2020 to June 2021, born in the Department of Obstetrics, Kunshan's First People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University and Huai'an Maternal and Child Health Care Center. The infants' weight was collected daily in the hospital, and the weight loss was calculated daily. According to the weight loss daily, the infants were divided into 3 groups. Group A: the weight loss per day was less than 2% of birth weight, and the total weight loss was less than 10%. Group B: the weight loss per day was between 2 and 4% of the birth weight, and the total weight loss was less than 10%. Group C: the weight loss per day was more than 4% of the birth weight, or the total weight was more than 10%. The infants in group C were monitored carefully in the hospital or Outpatient Department (OPD) daily. The primary outcome was the incidence of hospitalization.
Results:
Of the 1865 term infants enrolled, 1052 were completed on the 7th day (356 in group A, 513 in group B, and 183 in group C). There was no significant difference among the three groups of subjects in terms of infant data, including birth weight, gender, Apgar scores, and gestational age. The number of C-sections and primiparas was substantially higher in groups C and B than in group A. The incidence of hospitalization in group C was significantly higher than that in group A and group B (30.6%, 12.1%, and 12.5%, respectively). The incidence of exclusive breastfeeding in group C was significantly lower than that in group A and group B (28.4%, 41%, and 38.4%, respectively). There was no significant difference between group A and group B in the incidence of hospitalization and exclusive breastfeeding. Most of the hospitalization was because of hyperbilirubinemia, and in group C, there were 2 babies because of dehydration fever and 3 because of hypoglycemia.
Conclusions:
The neonates whose weight loss daily after birth was more than 4% of the total weight loss of more than 10% had higher hospitalization rates.
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