Excessive weight loss in breastfed infants during the postpartum hospitalization.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in breastfeeding frequency, voids, and stools in infants with weight losses < or > or =7% during the postpartum hospitalization.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of data from a primary psychometric study examining the Mother Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool (MIBPT).


METHODS
A midwestern community hospital in a multicultural racially diverse community.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 53 breastfeeding women and infants hospitalized after birth.


METHODS
Data were collected during a chart review; infants were divided into < or > or =7% weight loss groups at 2 days postpartum, and breastfeeding frequency, voiding, and stooling were examined between groups and used to predict a > or =7% weight loss at 2 days postpartum.


RESULTS
Of the 53 infants, 20.8% lost > or =7% of their birth weight. Infants who lost > or =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 > or =7% weight loss, with an odds ratio of 1.74 (95% CI=1.09, 2.75, p <; .05).


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of other indicators of ineffective breastfeeding, breastfeeding infants who lose > or =7% of their birth weight during the first 2 days postpartum might be experiencing a physiologic diuresis after birth, unrelated to their breastfeeding behaviors. More research is necessary to determine the cause of a > or =7% weight loss in newborns during the first 48 hours after birth.
Mulder
Pamela J
PJ
University of Iowa, College of Nursing, Iowa City, IA.. Electronic address: pamela-mulder@uiowa.edu.
Johnson
Teresa S
TS
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Baker
Linda C
LC
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D004231:Diuresis / Q000502:physiology; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D017283:Neonatal Nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*