LACTATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF ADOLESCENT MOTHERS SHOWS PRELIMINARY DIFFERENCES FROM THAT OF ADULT WOMEN

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.