Excessive weight loss in breastfed infants during the postpartum hospitalization

Abstract

Objective: To examine differences in breastfeeding frequency, voids, and stools in infants with weight losses < or ≥7% during the postpartum hospitalization. Design: Secondary analysis of data from a primary psychometric study examining the Mother Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool (MIBPT). Setting: A midwestern community hospital in a multicultural racially diverse community. Participants: Convenience sample of 53 breastfeeding women and infants hospitalized after birth. Methods: Data were collected during a chart review; infants were divided into < or ≥7% weight loss groups at 2 days postpartum, and breastfeeding frequency, voiding, and stooling were examined between groups and used to predict a ≥7% weight loss at 2 days postpartum. Results: Of the 53 infants, 20.8% lost ≥7% of their birth weight. Infants who lost ≥7% of their birth weight had significantly more total voids and a higher breastfeeding frequency on the day of birth than infants who lost <7% of their birth weight. A logistic regression analysis resulted in total voids being the only significant predictor of a ≥7% weight loss, with an odds ratio of 1.74 (95% CI=1.09, 2.75, p