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.

DESIGN

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

SETTING

A midwestern community hospital in a multicultural racially diverse community.

PARTICIPANTS

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).

CONCLUSION

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.