Longitudinal study of breastfeeding and growth in 0-6 month infants.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To explore advantages and challenges for exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), compared to non-exclusive breastfeeding (nEBF). METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Mothers from 7 cities in China were visited at 3, 10, 60, 120, and 180 days postpartum. Data about feeding practices, infant growth, and the macronutrient contents of human milk (HM) were collected. RESULTS: 130 lactating mothers attended 5 visits. 59 mothers (45.4%) exclusively breastfed infants for 0-4 month. Frequencies of breastfeeding per day were higher in the EBF group than the nEBF group at day 3, 10, 120 and 180, and were less than 8 times per day in the nEBF group. For Weight-for-age z scores, there were no differences between the two groups. Length-for-age z score was greater in the nEBF group at day 180 (0.74±1.05 vs 0.33±1.28). Weight-for-length z scores were greater in the EBF group at day 120 and 180 (day 120: 0.88±1.08 vs 0.36±1.1, day 180: 1.1±0.94 vs 0.54±1.07). The average protein and lactose contents of HM in the nEBF group were higher than in the EBF group at day 10. CONCLUSIONS: For nEBF infants, intake of formula replaced intake of breastmilk, due to lack of breastfeeding frequency, which did not bring weight gain for nEBF infants. During the introduction of complementary foods, EBF infants needed complementary nutrients to support growth. Therefore, lactating mothers may need to provide appropriate complementary feeding and maternal leave extension to attend to their infant's nutritional requirements. The criteria for linear growth may also need to be more commensurate with breastfeeding and relevant to later health outcomes.

[An epidemiological study on vitamin K deficiency bleeding in infants under six months].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the incidence and relevant affecting factors of infant vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in Shandong Province. METHODS: With stratified cluster sampling, 28 156 live newborns from five districts and six counties were surveyed for the condition of bleeding from their birth to 6 months based on standard diagnostic criteria. A 1:2 matched case-control study of VKDB was performed. RESULTS: An overall incidence of VKDB was 3.27 per thousand in Shandong; higher in the rural areas (4.96 per thousand ) than in the urban areas (1.19 per thousand ). Most of the bleeding cases were breast-fed babies (about 95.57%) and incidence of VKDB in pre-term babies (22.52 per thousand ) was higher than that in term ones (2.96 per thousand ). Mothers' drug taking during pregnancy, asphyxia at birth, breast-feeding and illness within two weeks after birth were risk factors for it. Use of vitamin K after birth and bottle-feeding were protective factors for it. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of VKDB is higher in Shandong Province, as compared to other areas all over the country at the same time period. It is very important to prevent VKDB, focusing on high-risk babies in the rural areas, including those of preterm, breast-fed and suffering illness after birth.