title: Influence of breast-feeding on weight loss, jaundice, and waste elimination in neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative began promoting exclusive breast-feeding in 2001 in Taiwan; however, few studies have investigated its impact. This study evaluated the influence of breast-feeding on Taiwanese neonates with regard to the frequency of jaundice, body weight loss (BWL), and elimination of both urine and stool.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 313 healthy mother-neonate pairs admitted at our hospital were reviewed retrospectively and divided into three groups: exclusively breast-feeding (n=161), mixed (breast/formula) feeding (n=80), and exclusively formula feeding (n=72).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the exclusively formula feeding group, in the exclusively breast-fed neonates, the average total serum bilirubin level at 3 days after birth (p < 0.001) and the rate of significant hyperbilirubinemia ≥ 15 mg/dL (p<0.05) were significantly higher; the average BWLs at 2 and 3 days after birth (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and the rate of BWL ≥ 10% (p < 0.05) were significantly higher; the average frequency of stool passage at 2 and 3 days after birth (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and urination at 1, 2, and 3 days after birth (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001) were significantly less. The factors associated with a mother's choice of infant feeding type include maternal age and delivery method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast-feeding during the initial days of life has a significant influence on the degree of jaundice, amount of BWL, and the frequency of stool passage and urination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu Chi Dalin General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei-Ching
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chin-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Chun-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shou-Chin
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Keng-Gu
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shiao-Chi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shu-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014554:Urination; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin