Breastfeeding pattern and gain in weight among a group of urban infants

Abstract

A rctrospcclivu cohdrl study was designed Ui comparc weight increment between
•predominanlK breastfed' (received breast milk with or without complement o f water) and
'mixedfed' (received additional milk or milk based products) babies over 3 months
postpartum period. Records of weekly feeding history and body weight measurements at 4-
we ek s interval were compared. The mean birth weight o f predominantly breastfed infants was
2.83 ± 0.4S kg and mixedfed group was 2.93 ± 0.56 kg respectively, and the difference was
not significant. The mean increments in weight between birth and at 12 we ek ' s time for the
groups were 2.42 ± 0.4 6 kg (predominant breastfed) and 2.19 ± 0.61 kg (mixedfed)
respectively and the dilference in weight gain was significant (P<0.05). Weight increment in
low birth weight babies (LBW) was ccimpared. in addition, with that of normal birth weight
babies (N BW) in each feeding group separately, in the predominant breastfed group no
significant difference in weight increment between the I.liW and NBW babies were found,
indicating a catch-up growth by the LBWs near to the level o f the NBWs . Predominantly
breastfed inl'ants grew better than (he mixed fed infants did. LBW babies in the predominant
breastled group found protected from growth faltering.