title: Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most common reason given for discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding is perceived insufficient milk supply. Breastfed infants show more variation in feeding frequency than bottle-fed infants, and this may lead to a mother lacking confidence in her milk supply if the frequency of breastfeeding sessions does not match expectations based on bottle feeding. We aimed to assist clinicians in supporting breastfeeding mothers by providing evidence-based information on expected changes in breastfeeding patterns and milk intake during exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers and their healthy infants who were exclusively breastfeeding (total 24-hour milk intake within the normal range) were studied during two to five 24-hour periods between 1 and 6 months of lactation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1 and 3 months of lactation, the frequency of breastfeeding sessions decreased, whereas both the median and maximum breastmilk intakes during each breastfeeding session increased. These parameters remained constant between 3 and 6 months. The duration of each breastfeeding session decreased steadily from 1 to 6 months, but the total 24-hour milk intake remained constant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breastfeeding becomes more efficient between 1 and 3 months of lactation, although milk intake remains constant. Clinicians can give mothers confidence that these changes in breastfeeding behavior do not indicate insufficient milk supply, but may be a result of the increase in the stomach capacity of the infants and are an expected outcome of a healthy, normal breastfeeding relationship.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia. Jacqueline.Kent@uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Jacqueline C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Anna R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hepworth
authors.forename: Jillian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sherriff
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Leon R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Mitoulas
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D013997:Time Factors