Relationships between baby feeding types and patterns, gut transit time of meconium and the incidence of neonatal jaundice

Abstract

The incidence of neonatal jaundice is reported to have increased in relation to breast feeding and various factors are thought to contribute to this either singularly or in concert. In a group of 150 full-term healthy babies, feeding types and gut transit time of meconium were examined. The findings demonstrated significant differences between feeding types and time taken to evacuate total meconium (p < 0.0001), weight loss/gain patterns (p < 0.0005) and the incidence of moderately severe jaundice (p < 0.01) during the early neonatal period. Baby feeding types were clearly defined in the study and a stool colour comparator was used to facilitate identification and classification of all stool colour transition from meconium through to yellow. Maximum weight loss was found to occur on the second day after delivery and in many instances the lost weight was regained by the baby on the fifth day. Exceptions to this were babies who fed ineffectively or inadequately. These outcomes suggest that the assistance and advice given to mothers and babies, by midwives and others, to achieve effective feeding practices in the days following birth is of paramount importance to the baby's immediate wellbeing.