[Nutritional and fluid supplementation for neonates. Types and use of supplementation in maternity wards]

The objective of the study was to evaluate the practice of giving supplementary feeding to newborns on maternity wards according to type of supplement, use and choice of supplement in different clinical settings, recommended frequency of breast-feeding, recommended types of infant formula and finally the influence of paediatric department and geographic site on the use of different types and use of supplements at the wards. Sixty maternity wards (95%) in Denmark filled in and returned the questionnaire. The maternity wards offered six different kinds of supplements and 36% of the maternity wards offered human milk. The study gave the impression of a large consumption of supplements on the maternity wards. Most of the maternity wards (83%) would recommend hydrolysed infant formula for infants with a family history of allergy, and almost the same number (88%) would recommend traditional infant formula for infants without a family history of allergy. Mothers' request for hydrolysed infant formula for infants without a family history of allergy was refused in 20% of the maternity wards. There were no differences between the recommended frequencies of breast-feeding. Maternity wards in hospitals with paediatric departments would significantly more frequently offer the infants supplements than maternity wards in hospitals without paediatric departments. The same maternity wards would significantly more often use water and human milk and more rarely water with glucose than maternity wards in hospitals without paediatric departments. In the western part of Denmark the maternity wards significantly more often used traditional infant formula and water with glucose than in the eastern part of Denmark. In conclusion, the investigation showed a considerable variation in the different types of supplements used in the maternity wards. The variation was influenced by the presence of a paediatric department in the hospital as well as by the geographic site. To ensure a higher and more uniform quality in this area it would be desirable if The National Board of Health in collaboration with the Allergy committee in the Danish Society of Paediatricians would publish recommendations to all who work professionally with mothers and infants.