Study of Weight Patterns in Exclusively Breast Fed Neonates- Does the Route of Delivery have an Impact?
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Correspondence
Dr. Purnima Samayam,
No 30, 12th main, BTM Layout 1st Stage, Bangalore-560029, Karnataka, India.
E-mail : purnimasamayam@gmail.com
Introduction: Physiological weight loss is seen in all breast fed neonates. The route of delivery may have an effect on the neonatal weight loss/gain in these exclusively breast fed babies. Additional assistance and support for exclusive breast feeding is needed by mothers who undergo cesarean section.
Aim: To study and compare the weight patterns in full term exclusively breast fed neonates born by normal vaginal route versus cesarean section in the first month of life.
Materials and Methods: It is a prospective observational study. Healthy, full term neonates born by normal vaginal route or cesarean section in a rural tertiary hospital with uneventful perinatal periods were included. Exclusive breast feeding was given to all neonates with supervision and encouragement to the mothers. Primary outcome measure- Weight loss of the neonates at 24 hours and 72 hours of life.
Results: Neonates delivered by cesarean section showed a higher weight loss (% of birth weight) at 24 hours {mean(sd)} than those delivered vaginally {3.2 (1.9) vs 2.2 (1.2); p-value=0.0016}. At 72 hours, the cesarean neonates had higher weight loss than vaginally delivered neonates {5.9 (3.1) vs 4.7 (2.5); p-value=0.0314}. At 28 days of life, the neonates born by cesarean section showed lower weight gain than those delivered by vaginal route {10.9 (2.1) vs 11.9 (2.3); p-value=0.0244}.
Conclusion: The route of delivery has a significant impact on the physiological weight loss seen in exclusively breast fed neonates. Babies delivered by cesarean section showed significantly higher weight loss in the first week of life, and lower weight gain at the end of first month than babies born by vaginal route.