Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
Author Spotlight: Implications of Non-Nutritive Sucking on Speech Emergence and Infant Development
Published on: April 19, 2024
Association of early-term birth and breastfeeding practices with nutritional outcomes in singleton term infants: a
Li Zhang1, Hui-Juan Liu1, Ping Li2
1Research Center for Child Health, Department of Child Health Care, Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, No. 12675, Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
Insights
Early-term birth increases risks for infant overweight and stunting, while exclusive breastfeeding protects against malnutrition. Avoid nonmedically indicated early delivery and promote exclusive breastfeeding for infant health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric nutrition and growth
- Maternal-fetal medicine
Background:
- Limited research exists on gestational age (GA) and breastfeeding's impact on term infant growth.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing infant health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between gestational age and infant feeding practices with growth and nutritional status in term infants.
- To identify risks associated with early-term birth and non-exclusive breastfeeding.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter cross-sectional study of 7270 singleton term infants in China.
- Data collected included gestational age, feeding practices, anthropometry (length, weight), and nutritional status indicators.
- Statistical analyses employed linear and logistic regression models, with sensitivity analyses on normal birth weight infants.
Main Results:
- Early-term birth was linked to higher weight-for-length Z-scores (WLZ) and increased risk of overweight/obesity.
- Early-term birth also correlated with lower length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ) and higher risk of stunting before 6 months.
- Exclusive formula-feeding and mixed feeding were associated with lower WLZ and increased risks of moderate and severe acute malnutrition (MSAM) compared to exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- Early-term birth poses significant health risks, including overweight and stunting, in term infants.
- Exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months demonstrates a protective effect against malnutrition.
- Recommendations include avoiding nonmedically indicated deliveries before 39 weeks and promoting exclusive breastfeeding.
Background:
Limited research has explored the associations of gestational age (GA) and breastfeeding practices with growth and nutrition in term infants.
Methods:
This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 7299 singleton term infants from well-child visits in Shandong, China, between March 2021 and November 2022. Data on GA, gender, ethnicity, birth weight, parental heights, gestational diabetes and hypertension, age at visit, breastfeeding practices (point-in-time data at visit for infants < 6 months and retrospective data at 6 months for infants ≥ 6 months), complementary foods introduction, infant length and weight, were collected. 7270 infants were included in the analysis after excluding outliers with Z-scores of length (LAZ), weight or weight for length (WLZ) <-4 or > 4. Linear regression models adjused for covariates explored the impact of GA and breastfeeding practices on LAZ and WLZ, while logistic regression models evaluated their effect on the likelihood of moderate and severe stunting (MSS, LAZ<-2), moderate and severe acute malnutrition (MSAM, WLZ<-2) and overweight/obesity (WLZ > 2). Sensitivity analysis was conducted on normal birth weight infants (2.5-4.0 kg).
Results:
Infants born early-term and exclusively breastfed accounted for 31.1% and 66.4% of the sample, respectively. Early-term birth related to higher WLZ (< 6 months: β = 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16, 0.29; ≥6 months: β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.20) and an increased risk of overweight/obesity throughout infancy (< 6 months: OR: 1.41, 95% CI 1.08, 1.84; ≥6 months: OR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.03, 1.79). Before 6 months, early-term birth correlated with lower LAZ (β=-0.16, 95% CI: -0.21, -0.11) and an increased risk of MSS (OR: 1.01, 95%CI 1.00, 1.02); Compared to exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive formula-feeding and mixed feeding linked to lower WLZ (β=-0.15, 95%CI -0.30, 0.00 and β=-0.12, 95%CI -0.19, -0.05, respectively) and increased risks of MSAM (OR: 5.57, 95%CI 1.95, 15.88 and OR: 3.19, 95%CI 1.64, 6.19, respectively). Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings.
Conclusions:
The findings emphasize the health risks of early-term birth and the protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding in singleton term infants, underscoring the avoidance of nonmedically indicated delivery before 39 weeks and promoting exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months.
More Related Videos
07:11Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
09:36Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers
Published on: July 28, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
01:26Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
01:20Attachment
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...