title: The effect of breast-feeding frequency on serum bilirubin levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of breast-feeding frequency on serum bilirubin levels in the first 3 days after birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred seventy-five infants were randomly assigned to a frequent or demand breast-feeding schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants in the frequent group (n = 131) nursed nine (7.5 to 10.5) times per day (median and inner 80%), and the demand group (n = 143) fed 6.5 (5.5 to 8.0) times per day. The serum bilirubin level was measured in all infants between 48 and 80 hours (median 53 hours, inner 80% 48 to 68 hours) and was 7.4 (1.8 to 10.7) mg/dl in the frequent group and 8.0 (2.9 to 11.2) mg/dl in the demand group (p = 0.103). There was no correlation between the frequency of breast-feeding and the serum bilirubin level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the range of the frequency of nursing observed in this study, we could not demonstrate a significant effect on serum bilirubin levels in the first 3 days after birth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Maisels
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vain
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Acquavita
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: de Blanco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DiGregorio
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin