Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Neonatal jaundice remains the most common and, perhaps, the most controversial problem in full-term newborns during the immediate postnatal period.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the relationship between types of feeding and neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia in full term neonates in the first week of life.
METHODS:
In the period from the first of January 2008 to the first of August 2008, populations of 140 full term newborns admitted to the neonatal care unit in Children Welfare teaching Hospital in Medical City-Baghdad were studied. A serum bilirubin level >12.9 mg/dL was considered significant.
RESULTS:
Of the population studied, most newborns received supplementary feeding 73 (52.1%), followed by breast feeding 50(35.7%), while only 10(7.1%) and 7(5.0%) were on mixed and formula feeding, respectively. Ninety (64.3%) of the jaundiced neonates were males and 50(35.7%) were females with a male to female ratio of (1.8:1).
CONCLUSION:
This study revealed that, no significant association could be found between different types of feeding and indirect hyperbilirubinemia in full term newborns. Besides, giving water, dextrose water or formula with breastfeeding will adversely affect the volume of milk transferred to the baby and the volume of milk produced by the mother