Objective: To evaluate the growth of exclusively breastfed infants from birth to 6 months of life.
Methods: This was a longitudinal study of 184 children who received primary care at a public institution (Exclusive Breastfeeding Stimulation Program, PROAME) in Belém, state of Pará, Brazil, between February 2000 and January 2001. A total of 102 children completed the study. All were born at full term with a birth weight greater than or equal to 2,500 g. No events were recorded during the neonatal period and the infants were exclusively breastfed, on demand, since their birth. The infants were followed up monthly, and the weight and length measured at birth and at the end of the first, fourth and sixth months of life were compared to the 50th percentile line of the NCHS growth charts and to other previous studies of Brazilian children who were exclusively breastfed.
Results: Growth was adequate for all the children, who doubled their weight before the fourth month of life. Despite a slow-down in weight and height gain after the fourth month, the weight averages at 6 months were greater than the standards used for comparison.
Conclusions: The average weight of these exclusively breastfed children was above the 50th percentile of the NCHS curve at 6 months, thus confirming the nutritional advantages of breast milk, especially when the mothers receive guidance regarding the appropriate techniques for breastfeeding.
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Front Pediatr
December 2024
Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, School of Health Science & Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Background: Early life infections (ELIs), encompassing both viral and bacterial types, occur within the first six months of life. Influenced by genetic host factors and environmental conditions, the relationship between ELIs and subsequent allergic manifestations, particularly cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and atopic dermatitis (AD), is complex and not fully understood.
Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine the potential interplay between nutrition, infections, and allergic manifestations in the first six months of life in infants with a family history of allergies, who were either exclusively breastfed (EBF) or fed a combination of breast milk and standard (SF) or partially hydrolyzed infant formula (pHF).
Introduction The association between breastfeeding status and early childhood caries (ECC) remains inconclusive. Few studies evaluate the breastfeeding status including both duration and exclusivity according to the WHO recommendations on breastfeeding. This study aimed to investigate the association between breastfeeding status and ECC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open
January 2025
Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Objectives: To assess the geographical equity in Ethiopian infants' exclusive breastfeeding at 5 months and dietary diversity at 12 months and whether social factors explained the spatial inequities.
Design: Secondary analysis of a birth cohort study.
Setting: Analysis of data from the Ethiopian Performance Monitoring for Action panel study conducted from July 2020 to August 2021 in five regions (ie, Oromia, Amhara, Afar and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples regions and the Addis Ababa City administration).
Women Birth
January 2025
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland, Whitty Building, Mater Hospital Campus, South Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address:
Background: Despite breastfeeding being widely accepted as the optimal feeding method for infants many women do not meet their breastfeeding goals or continue to breastfeed as long as recommended. Continuation of exclusive breastfeeding is multifactorial, with midwifery support during the postnatal period considered to be an important component. However, little is known about how women receive this support from midwives across varying models of care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWomen Health
January 2025
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.
A novel breastfeeding mobile app was created. We aim to determine if patients who utilize the app will have longer breastfeeding duration, improved breastfeeding self-efficacy scores at 1-year follow-up, and higher exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months postpartum. Participants were randomized, with 45 to the intervention and 48 to the control groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!