Breastfeeding of preterm newborn infants following hospital discharge: follow-up during the first year of life

Association between preterm infant body composition in the first 3 months of life and preschool age: a cohort study

Compared with full-term infants, preterm infants have fat-free mass deficit in the first months of life, which increases the risk of metabolic diseases in the future. In this cohort of children born under 32-week gestational age or less than 1500 g, we aimed to evaluate the associations of body composition at term equivalent age and in the first 3 months of life with fat-free mass and fat mass percentage at 4 to 7 years of life. Body composition assessments by air displacement plethysmography and anthropometry were performed at term, at 3 months of corrected age, and at 4 to 7 years of age. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to observe the associations between body composition at these ages. At term, fat mass percentage showed a negative association and fat-free mass a positive association with fat-free mass at 4 to 7 years. The fat-free mass at 3 months and the gain in fat-free mass between term and 3 months showed positive associations with fat-free mass at 4 to 7 years.   Conclusion: Body composition at preschool age is associated with fat-free mass in the first 3 months of life, a sensitive period for the risk of metabolic diseases. What is Known: • Preterm infants have a deficit in fat-free mass and high adiposity at term equivalent age compared to full-term infants. • Fat-free mass reflects metabolic capacity throughout life and therefore is considered a protective factor against the risk of metabolic syndrome. What is New: •Fat-free mass gain in the first 3 months of corrected age is associated with fat-free mass at preschool and school ages. •The first 3 months of life is a sensitive period to the risk of metabolic diseases.

Breastfeeding practices based on the gestational age and weight at birth in the first six months of life in a population-based cohort of infants from North India

Background

Short and long term benefits of early Initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the first six months of life are well established and recommended globally. However, reliable estimates of breastfeeding practices and impact of breastfeeding counselling interventions according to gestational age and weight at birth are not available in low and middle income countries.

Objective

To assess the impact of breastfeeding counselling on EIBF and EBF during the first 6 months of life according to gestational age and weight at birth.

Methods

We analysed the data collected from the Women and Infants Integrated Interventions for Growth Study (WINGS), an individually randomized factorial design trial. Mothers were counselled on EIBF during third trimester of pregnancy. They were supported throughout the first 6 months to continue EBF by early problem identification, frequent home visits and assistance in expressing breastmilk when direct breastfeeding was not possible. Breastfeeding practices were ascertained through 24 h recalls at infant ages 1, 3 and 5 months for both the intervention and control groups by an independent outcome ascertainment team. The World Health Organization (WHO) definitions were used for classification of infant breastfeeding practices. Generalized linear models of the Poisson family with a log-link function were used to estimate the effect of interventions on breastfeeding practices. The relative measures of effect on breastfeeding practices were estimated in term appropriate for gestational age (T-AGA), term small for gestational age (T-SGA), preterm AGA (PT-AGA), preterm SGA (PT-SGA) infants.

Results

Amongst all infants irrespective of gestational age and weight at birth, EIBF was (51.7%) higher amongst the intervention group (IRR 1.38, 95% CI 1.28-1.48) compared with the control group. The proportion of exclusively breastfed infants at ages 1 month (IRR 1.37, 95% CI 1.28-1.48), 3 months (IRR 2.13, 95% CI 1.30-1.44) and 5 months (IRR 2.78, 95% CI 2.58-3.00) were higher in intervention group than control group. We identified significant interaction (p value for interaction <0.05) between intervention and infant size and gestation at birth on exclusive breastfeeding at 3 and 5 months of age. Subgroup analysis showed that the impact of the intervention was greater on exclusive breastfeeding in PT- SGA infants at 3 months (IRR 3.30, 95% CI 2.20-4.96) and 5 months of age (IRR 5.26, 95% CI 2.98-9.28).

Conclusion

This is one of the first studies wherein impact of breastfeeding counselling interventions in the first 6 months of life was assessed according to infant size and gestation at birth wherein gestational age was reliably estimated. The impact of this intervention was higher in preterm and SGA babies compared to other infants. This finding is important as preterm and SGA infants have a higher burden of mortality and morbidity during early infancy. Intensive breastfeeding counselling to these vulnerable infants is likely to improve overall breastfeeding rates and reduce the adverse outcomes.Clinical Trial Registration: [http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?trialid=19339%26EncHid=%26userName=societyforappliedstudies], identifier [#CTRI/2017/06/008908].

Very-low-birth-weight infant short-term post-discharge outcomes: A retrospective study of specialized compared to standard care

OBJECTIVE

Ongoing health care challenges, low breast milk intake, and the need for rehospitalization are common during the first year of life after hospital discharge for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. This retrospective cohort study examined breast milk intake, growth, emergency department (ED) visits, and non-surgical rehospitalizations for VLBW infants who received specialized post-discharge follow-up in western Canada, compared to VLBW infants who received standard follow-up in central Canada.

DESIGN

Data were collected from two neonatal follow-up programs for VLBW babies (n = 150 specialized-care; n = 205 standard-care). Logistic regression was used to examine odds of breast milk intake and generalized estimating equations were used for odds of growth, ED visits and non-surgical rehospitalization by site.

RESULTS

Specialized-care was associated with enhanced breast milk intake duration; the odds of receiving breastmilk at 4 months in the specialized-care cohort was 6 times that in the standard-care cohort. The specialized-care cohort had significantly more ED visits and rehospitalizations. However, for infants with oxygen use beyond 36 weeks compared to those with no oxygen use, the standard-care cohort had over 7 times the odds of rehospitalization where as the specialized-care cohort with no increased odds of rehospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Specialized neonatal nursing follow-up was associated with continued breastmilk intake beyond discharge. Infants in the specialized-care cohort used the ED and were hospitalized more often than the standard-care cohort with the exception of infants with long term oxygen needs.

The Galactagogue Effect of Maternal Ingestion of Corn-Based Preparations: A Preliminary Study

Background: Low human milk production frequently occurs in mothers of premature children with low birth weights who require intensive care. Research Aims: To investigate whether corn-based preparations increase human milk production in women with insufficient milk volumes. Method: This was an intervention study evaluated whether there was an increase in human milk production after a mother's consumption of corn-based preparations. The participants included women with hypogalactia and mothers of infants in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. The corn-based preparations included green corn cakes and sweet hominies. A total of 35 mother-infant pairs participated in this study. Each mother served as their own control. The study took place over 2 weeks, and data were collected at baseline and after the intervention. At baseline, a socioeconomic questionnaire was used to collect information regarding maternal food consumption, volume of milk expressed, and infant weight and length. All evaluations, except for questionnaire administration, were performed during the intervention phase, when the lactating women ingested the corn-based preparations. Results: A significantly higher average volume of milk was expressed in the intervention period (397.6 ± 182.6 mL/day) compared to baseline (343.6 ± 155.8 mL/day) on the paired t-test (p < 0.001) analysis. Neither energy nor macronutrients consumed correlated with milk volume. Conclusion: The tested corn-based preparations acted as galactagogues and could be used to stimulate milk production in lactating women.

Energy expenditure and body composition in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia at term age

In this cross-sectional study, conducted in a cohort of infants with a gestational age of < 32 weeks, we aimed to evaluate and compare resting energy expenditure (REE) and body composition between infants who developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and those who did not. REE and body composition were assessed at term equivalent age using indirect calorimetry and air displacement plethysmography. Anthropometric measurements (weight, head circumference, and length) were obtained and transformed into Z-scores per the Fenton (2013) growth curve, at birth and at term equivalent age. Forty-two infants were included in this study, of which 26.2% developed BPD. Infants with BPD had significantly higher energy expenditure at term equivalent age, with no difference in body composition between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Despite expending more energy, infants with BPD maintained a similar body composition distribution to those without BPD, and this is likely due to the recommended nutritional approach.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Greater resting energy expenditure impairs growth of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

WHAT IS NEW

• Although preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia had a higher resting energy expenditure at the corrected term age, this did not affect their body composition and growth.

A prospective cohort study on lactation status and breastfeeding challenges in mothers giving birth to preterm infants

Background

Mothers of preterm infants face many challenges in breastfeeding, especially regarding lactation. This study aimed to investigate the lactation status and challenges in breastfeeding faced by preterm infants’ mothers.

Methods

We approached 124 mothers who gave birth to preterm infants between 26 May and 31 October 2018 in a tertiary hospital in China. Lactation status and challenges in breastfeeding on day 7 postpartum, at discharge of infants, 2 weeks post-discharge, and 3 months of corrected age were collected using questionnaires. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for expressed milk volume on day 7 postpartum for predicting expressed milk volume ≥ 300 mL/d at discharge was calculated. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with delayed lactogenesis II onset and continuation of breastfeeding at 3 months of corrected age.

Results

Seventy mothers were enrolled, and 51.4% had delayed lactogenesis II. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older maternal age (aOR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.40) and first live birth (aOR = 4.81; 95% CI 1.43, 16.18) were significant independent predictors of delayed lactogenesis II. Mothers with delayed lactogenesis II had significantly lower expressed milk volume (day 7 postpartum: 160.0 mL vs. 300.0 mL, U = 328.50, p = 0.001; at discharge: 425.0 mL vs. 612.5 mL, U = 372.00, p = 0.005), with a lower proportion of exclusive breastfeeding in their infants (at discharge: 33.3% vs. 69.8%, χ² = 12.39, df = 1, p < 0.001; 3 months of corrected age: 17.8% vs. 52.8%, χ² = 11.03, df = 1, p = 0.001). The ROC showed that expressed milk volume > 190 mL/d on day 7 postpartum significantly predicted expressed milk volume ≥ 300 mL/d at discharge. Insufficient human milk was the main reason for breastfeeding discontinuation at 3 months of corrected age. Twins were less likely to continue breastfeeding at 3 months of corrected age (aOR = 0.27; 95% CI 0.09, 0.86). In singleton infants, mother’s own milk ≥50% of total milk uptake at 2 weeks post-discharge (aOR = 32.66; 95% CI 3.00, 355.25) was an independent predictor of continuous breastfeeding at 3 months of corrected age. Feeding complications in infants, poor breastfeeding technique, and low milk output are the main challenges in breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Interventions to improve early postpartum lactation and breastfeeding techniques may increase breastfeeding adoption in mothers of preterm infants.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13006-021-00447-4.

[Growth rate of children of a cohort up to the sixth month of life]

The scope of this article is to investigate factors that contributed to the growth rate of children from birth through the sixth month of life. It involves a cohort study with 144 children observed at birth and in the first, second and sixth months of life. Child head circumference (cm/month), weight (g/day) and length (cm/month) rates were compared according to birth, pregnancy, maternal and family characteristics and those related to the food, illness and health care of the child. The female sex and difficulty in breastfeeding contributed to the deceleration of all three growth rates, while maternal non-vaccination against tetanus affected the increase of head circumference and of child length. Severe maternal mental disorder, moderate/severe food insecurity, oatmeal consumption and failure to follow-up the development of the child influenced the head circumference and weight rates. The intake of alcohol during pregnancy, cesarean delivery, mixed/predominant breastfeeding, use of infant formula and episodes of diarrhea/vomiting affected the head circumference, while inadequate prenatal care affected weight, and low-stature mothers and pacifier use affected length. Modifiable factors are highlighted, such as the consumption of oatmeal and infant formula, and the use of pacifiers, which are related to breastfeeding in infants.

The effect of risk at birth on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity: A cohort study at a Brazilian referral center for high-risk neonates and infants

Background and aim

Both breastfeeding and the use of human milk are strategies that provide better conformation to health throughout an individual’s life and bring countless short- and long- term benefits, which are well established in the scientific literature. For at-risk newborns (NBs), these strategies are crucial interventions to enable neonatal survival with better quality of life due to the distinctive and complex composition of human milk, which serves as personalized food-medicine-protection. However, there is limited knowledge about breastfeeding practices in high-risk NBs. The aim was to estimate the duration of EBF and to investigate the effect of risk at birth on EBF discontinuity in the first six months of life’.

Methods

This cohort study included 1,003 NBs from a high-risk referral center, followed up from birth to the sixth month of life, between 2017 and 2018. Correspondence and cluster analysis was used to identify neonatal risk clusters as the main exposure. The object of interest was the time until EBF discontinuity. The Kaplan-Meier methods and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate the hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

The prevalence and median duration of EBF decreased proportionally in the three groups. The multiple model revealed a gradient in EBF discontinuity, which was 40% higher in risk group 1 and 111% higher in risk group 2 compared to healthy full-term NBs. Additionally, EBF during hospitalization predicted a longer median duration of this practice for high-risk NBs.

Conclusion

This study confirms a high proportion of high-risk NBs who have EBF discontinued before six months of life. The risk of EBF discontinuity is higher in risk groups, with a gradual effect even when adjusted by several factors. Effective interventions are needed to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding in different profiles of risk-at-birth groups.

Development and validation of a predictive model of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge: Retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and newborn have been widely demonstrated. However, breastfeeding rates at discharge are lower than recommended, so being able to identify women at risk of not breastfeeding at discharge could allow professionals to prioritise care.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a predictive model of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study on women who gave birth between 2014 and 2019 in Spain.

DATA SOURCES

The data source was a questionnaire distributed through the Spanish breastfeeding associations. The development of the predictive model was made on a cohort of 3387 women and was validated on a cohort of 1694 women. A multivariate analysis was performed by means of logistic regression, and predictive ability was determined by areas under the ROC curve (AUC).

RESULTS

80.2% (2717) women exclusively breastfed at discharge in the derivation cohort, and 82.1% (1390) in the validation cohort. The predictive factors in the final model were: maternal age at birth; BMI; number of children; previous breastfeeding; birth plan; induced birth; epidural analgesia; type of birth; prematurity; multiple pregnancy; macrosomia; onset of breastfeeding within the first hour; and skin-to-skin contact. The predictive ability (ROC AUC) in the derivation cohort was 0.76 (CI 95%: 0.74-0.78), while in the validation cohort it was 0.74 (CI 95%: 0.71-0.77).

CONCLUSIONS

A predictive model of exclusive maternal breastfeeding at hospital discharge has been developed, based on thirteen variables, with satisfactory predictive ability in both the derivation cohort and the validation cohort according to the Swets' criteria. This model can identify women who are at high risk of not breastfeeding at hospital discharge.

Breastfeeding patterns in cohort infants at a high-risk fetal, neonatal and child referral center in Brazil: a correspondence analysis

Background

To investigate the prevalence and patterns of breastfeeding at discharge and in the first six months of life in a high-risk fetal, neonatal and child referral center.

Methods

Prospective, longitudinal study that included the following three steps: hospital admission, first visit after hospital discharge and monthly telephone interview until the sixth month of life. The total number of losses was 75 mothers (7.5%). Exposure variables were sorted into four groups: factors related to the newborn, the mother, the health service and breastfeeding. The dependent variable is breastfeeding as per categories established by the WHO. All 1200 children born or transferred to the high-risk fetal, neonatal and child referral center, within a seven-day postpartum period, from March 2017 to April 2018, were considered eligible for the study, and only 1003 were included. The follow-up period ended in October 2018. For this paper, we performed an exploratory analysis at hospital discharge in three stages, as follows: (i) frequencies of baseline characteristics, stratified by risk for newborn; (ii) a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA); and (iii) clusters for variables related to hospital practice and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).

Results

The prevalence of EBF at hospital discharge was 65.2% (62.1–68.2) and 20.6% (16.5–25.0) in the six months of life. Out of all at-risk newborns, 45.7% were in EBF at discharge. The total inertia corresponding to the two dimensions in the MCA explained for 75.4% of the total data variability, with the identification of four groups, confirmed by the cluster analysis.

Discussion

Our results suggest that robust breastfeeding hospital policies and practices influence the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding in both healthy and at-risk infants. It is advisable to plan and implement additional strategies to ensure that vulnerable and healthy newborns receive optimal feeding. It is necessary to devote extra effort particularly to at-risk infants who are more vulnerable to negative outcomes.

Conclusion

At-risk newborns did not exclusively breastfeed to the same extent as healthy newborns at hospital discharge. A different approach is required for at-risk neonates, who are more physically challenged and more vulnerable to problems associated with initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding.

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva - 25 years: contributions to pregnancy, delivery, and childhood studies

We reviewed the scientific production on maternal health and the health of children under ten years of age, published in Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva during the last 25 years, focusing on quantitative studies. The authors' characteristics, populations under study, thematic areas, and methodology are described. A total of 170 publications were identified and grouped into 12 major themes. Pregnancy, delivery, and puerperium were the subject of 47 studies, followed by child anthropometric assessments (29), breastfeeding (24), and mortality (13). The selected publications represented 3.5% of the total original papers published by the Journal since its creation in 1996 and about 5% of the publications in the 2015-2020 period. The primary data sources were health service records, information systems, and population surveys. The cross-sectional design was used in 113 of the 170 articles, and 70% covered only one municipality. The Southeast and Northeast Regions of Brazil were the target of most studies, and the North Region was the least represented. The publications reflect the complexity of maternal and child health themes, with a particular focus on the importance of the Unified Health System and showing how open access data can contribute to public health research.