Nutrition and development in infants of poor rural areas. Pt. 1. Consumption of mother's milk by infants
Martinez, C.; Chavez, A.
Nutrition Reports International 4(3): 139-149
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-6635 PMID: 12263355 Document Number: 518179
This study was designed to examine the pattern of mother's milk consumption of infants from poor Mexican rural areas. A standardized sample of 17 mother-infant units was longitudinally studied in ad-libitum conditions, estimating milk volume by difference in body weights before and after feeding from the breast. Average total milk consumption during the 1st year of life was 183 +or- 23 liters. Daily milk consumption started low (423 +or- 85 ml), increased to a peak at 450 +or- 80 ml, and finally dropped to about 350 +or- 44 ml at 18 months. About 1/2 the cases reached the peak at 8 weeks and the rest at 24 weeks; this difference in presentation of the peak was connected to the mother's parity and nutritional status. Consumption seems to depend on mother's production since the baby keeps a high demand as evidenced by high feeding frequencies and too long sucking times. The gap resulting from decreasing milk production at a time when nutritional needs increase progressively affects the baby's development and nutritional status.