Do ambient temperature and humidity influence the breast-milk intake of babies?
This study explored the possible effect of ambient temperature and humidity on the breast-milk intakes of Australian infants (n = 35) aged 6-12 weeks. Over a 24 h period, each baby was fed only on milk from the breast; milk intakes, temperature and humidity were monitored. Milk intakes--determined by test-weighing the baby, with a correction for evaporative losses during feeds--showed a mean of 830 g/24 h, with median 818 and s.d. 152. The mean correction for evaporative losses was 46 g/24 h; omission of this correction would have led to an average underestimate of 5.5% in 24 h intakes. Ambient conditions varied substantially between subjects: 24 h mean temperatures ranged from 14 to 28 degrees C, and humidities from 48 to 97%. Over these ranges, breast-milk intakes did not appear to be significantly influenced by ambient temperature or ambient humidity; however, the rate of evaporative losses increased by 0.008 g/min for each 1 degree C rise in ambient temperature.
Woodward
D R
DR
Department of Biochemistry, University of Tasmania, Hobart.
Cumming
F J
FJ
D001315:Australia; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013696:Temperature; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible