Caloric deprivation questioned in breast milk jaundice
Laws, H.F.
Pediatrics 67(5): 748-750
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4005 PMID: 7255015 Document Number: 169252
With reference to the article by Stevenson et al. (see previous abstr.), the author challenges the use of the term 'calorically deprived' as applied to breast-fed infants. A report is presented of a study in which infants of 34 breast-feeding mothers were divided into 2 groups; infants in only 1 group were offered glucose water as a feeding supplement. 8 of 17 supplemented and 9 of 19 entirely breast-fed infants had a serum bilirubin concn. >7 at day 3 and similar numbers had values >12 mg/100 ml. Wt. loss, greater on day 3 in the unsupplemented group, was the only significant difference between groups. It was concluded that supplementation of energy has no effect on bilirubin concn. of breast-fed infants in the 1st few days of life.