Does monitoring newborn weight discourage breast feeding?. Issue 1 (20th October 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McKie, A; Young, D; MacDonald, P D
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 91:Issue 1(2006)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 46
• Publication Date: 2005-10-20
• Subjects: breast feeding -- weight monitoring -- newborn; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2005.074484
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Background: A policy of regular neonatal weight monitoring was introduced to a geographically defined population in 2000. This was combined with targeted breast feeding support for infants reaching specified intervention thresholds. Aims: To look for evidence of compromise in breast feeding rates as a result of this policy change. Methods: Breast feeding rates at 10 days and 6 weeks were compared for this intervention population and two local non-intervention groups for the years 1999 and 2001. The data were analysed using Poisson regression analysis and the Z-test. Results: There was a 3.1% (95% CI 0.8% to 5.5%) rise in the deprivation corrected breast feeding rate at 6 weeks for the intervention population compared to an increase of 0.8% (95% CI –0.8% to 2.3%) for the combined control groups. Multivariate analysis showed that breast feeding rates were adversely influenced by deprivation, but were not significantly influenced by the intervention. Conclusion: No evidence was found to support claims that regular monitoring of newborn weight adversely affects breast feeding rates.