Early weight gain influences duration of breast feeding: prospective cohort study

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 107; no. 11; pp. 1034 - 1037
• Main Authors: Olga, Laurentya, van Diepen, Janna A, Gross, Gabriele, Dunger, David B, Ong, Ken K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.11.2022; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Babies; Baby foods; Birth Weight; Body Composition; Body mass index; Body Weight; Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; child health; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; epidemiology; Female; Gestational age; growth; Humans; Infant; Infant formulas; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Mothers; Original Research; paediatrics; Pediatrics; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Scientific Concepts; Variance analysis; Weight Gain; Young Children; United Kingdom > UK; paediatrics; epidemiology; growth; child health
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-323999

ObjectiveWhile several studies have shown that milk formula feeding is associated with faster infant weight gain compared with exclusively breast feeding (EBF), we explored the possible reverse association that infant weight gain influences the duration of EBF.DesignProspective birth cohort study (Cambridge Baby Growth Breastfeeding Study) born 2015–2018.SettingCambridge, UK.ParticipantsFull-term, singleton, normal birthweight infants who received EBF for 2–5 completed weeks (n=54), 6–11 weeks (n=14) or 12 or more weeks (n=80).InterventionWeight gain from birth to 2 and 6 weeks.Main outcome and measureDuration of EBF.ResultsFaster infant weight gain during EBF predicted longer duration of EBF. Among all 148 infants, each +1 unit gain in weight SD score (SDS) between birth and 2 weeks (while all infants received EBF) reduced the likelihood of stopping EBF between 2 and 5 weeks by ~70% (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.77; adjusted for sex, gestational age at birth, birth weight and mother’s age, prepregnancy BMI and education). Similarly, among infants EBF for 6 or more weeks (n=94), each +1 unit gain in weight SDS between birth and 6 weeks reduced the likelihood of stopping EBF between 6 and 11 weeks by ~80% (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.63).ConclusionsSlower early infant weight gain was consistently associated with subsequent earlier discontinuation of EBF. We conjecture that broader recognition of the wide range of normal infant growth might encourage parents to not stop EBF earlier than they intended.