Breast-feeding and weight change in newborns in Jamaica

This study was conducted to examine weight change of exclusively breast-fed infants during the first week and through the first 24 days of life, and t o evaluate the effect of breast-feeding factors and maternal characteristic s on early weight change in the infants. The weights of 21 infants were rec orded on day 1 (day of birth), and on days 3, 7, 10, 17, and 24, and the da ta analysed to evaluate weight change over the period. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess whether birth weight as well as maternal and br east-feeding factors were significant predictors of weight on day 24. Ninet een of the 21 infants gained weight between days 1 and 3, and 20 infants ga ined weight between days 3 and 7. All infants gained weight over the 24-day period and their weights at day 7 and day 24 were significantly different (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) from their birth weights. Multiple li near regression analysis showed that significant (P < 0.01) predictors of w eight gain by day 24 included birth weight, mother's educational level, whe ther the baby cried before feeding, and length of feeding time periods. Thi s is the first study of weight change in the early days and weeks of life o f exclusively breast-fed newborn infants in Jamaica. The infants showed sig nificant weight gain during the study period and weight gain was affected b y certain maternal and breast-feeding factors.