Kj. Motil et al., LACTATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF ADOLESCENT MOTHERS SHOWS PRELIMINARY DIFFERENCES FROM THAT OF ADULT WOMEN, Journal of adolescent health, 20(6), 1997, pp. 442-449
Purpose: The purposes of this study were to characterize milk producti
on, milk composition, and the lactational behavior of adolescent mothe
rs, and to compare their lactational performance with that of adult fe
males. Methods: Twenty-two lactating mothers, 11 adolescents and 11 ad
ults, were studied at 6-week intervals between 6 and 24 weeks postpart
um. Milk production was determined by the test-weighing procedure. Mil
k nutrient composition was determined by standard chemical analyses. F
requency and duration of nursing and the use of supplemental formula a
nd complementary foods were recorded. Results: The amount of milk adol
escents produced at 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks postpartum ranged from 37-
54% less (P < .05) than that of the adults and resulted in a 45% weani
ng rate at 18 weeks postpartum in the younger group. Milk nutrient con
centrations were not significantly different between groups, with the
exception of significantly higher sodium concentrations during early l
actation in the adolescents' milk. Lactational behavior differed signi
ficantly between the adolescent and adult groups; however, with the ex
ception of the lower frequency of daytime nursing and the tendency tow
ard the early introduction of supplemental formula in the adolescent g
roup, these behavioral differences were the result of the racial and e
thnic differences between the two groups. The differences in lactation
al behavior did not contribute to the differences in milk production b
etween the adolescents and adult mothers. Conclusions: This preliminar
y study suggests that milk production was reduced in adolescent mother
s compared with adult females. Although behavioral strategies that inc
rease the frequency of daytime nursing and reduce the frequency of sup
plemental feedings may enhance the milk production of adolescent mothe
rs, other biological factors may account for their poorer lactational
performance. (C) Society for Adolescent Medicine, 1997.