Feeding on one side or both sides in a breast-feeding session.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of breast-feeding method (on only one or on two sides in a single feeding session) on growth, sleep duration and sucking period, and stool frequency.


METHODS
Exclusively breast-fed healthy infants, aged 1-6 months, were included in the study during child health follow-up visits. Mothers were given a questionnaire on sleep duration, sucking periods, and stool frequencies of their infants.


RESULTS
The height-for-age and weight-for-age z scores were significantly higher in infants breast-fed from one side during a single session than from both sides (P= 0.002, P < 0.001; respectively). Infants sucking on only one breast in a breast-feeding session defecated significantly less at night (P= 0.005), their maximum sucking periods at night were shorter (P= 0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
Breast-feeding at one side only during a single breast-feeding session increases growth, decreases stool frequency and the maximum sucking period at night and does not influence the overall sleep pattern.
Kondolot
Meda
M
Social Pediatrics Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey. medakondolot@yahoo.com
Yalçin
S Songül
SS
Yurdakök
Kadriye
K
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012890:Sleep; D013391:Sucking Behavior