Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation
Objective: The most common reason given for discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding is perceived insufficient milk supply. Breastfed infants show more variation in feeding frequency than bottle-fed infants, and this may lead to a mother lacking confidence in her milk supply if the frequency of br...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11781 |
| _version_ | 1848747897525370880 |
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| author | Kent, J. Hepworth, A. Sherriff, Jill Cox, D. Mitoulas, L. Hartmann, P. |
| author_facet | Kent, J. Hepworth, A. Sherriff, Jill Cox, D. Mitoulas, L. Hartmann, P. |
| author_sort | Kent, J. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective: The most common reason given for discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding is perceived insufficient milk supply. Breastfed infants show more variation in feeding frequency than bottle-fed infants, and this may lead to a mother lacking confidence in her milk supply if the frequency of breastfeeding sessions does not match expectations based on bottle feeding. We aimed to assist clinicians in supporting breastfeeding mothers by providing evidence-based information on expected changes in breastfeeding patterns and milk intake during exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.Subjects and Methods: Mothers and their healthy infants who were exclusively breastfeeding (total 24-hour milk intake within the normal range) were studied during two to five 24-hour periods between 1 and 6 months of lactation.Results: Between 1 and 3 months of lactation, the frequency of breastfeeding sessions decreased, whereas both the median and maximum breastmilk intakes during each breastfeeding session increased. These parameters remained constant between 3 and 6 months. The duration of each breastfeeding session decreased steadily from 1 to 6 months, but the total 24-hour milk intake remained constant.Conclusions: Breastfeeding becomes more efficient between 1 and 3 months of lactation, although milk intake remains constant. Clinicians can give mothers confidence that these changes in breastfeeding behavior do not indicate insufficient milk supply, but may be a result of the increase in the stomach capacity of the infants and are an expected outcome of a healthy, normal breastfeeding relationship. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:56:27Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-11781 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:56:27Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-117812017-09-13T14:58:11Z Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation Kent, J. Hepworth, A. Sherriff, Jill Cox, D. Mitoulas, L. Hartmann, P. Objective: The most common reason given for discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding is perceived insufficient milk supply. Breastfed infants show more variation in feeding frequency than bottle-fed infants, and this may lead to a mother lacking confidence in her milk supply if the frequency of breastfeeding sessions does not match expectations based on bottle feeding. We aimed to assist clinicians in supporting breastfeeding mothers by providing evidence-based information on expected changes in breastfeeding patterns and milk intake during exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.Subjects and Methods: Mothers and their healthy infants who were exclusively breastfeeding (total 24-hour milk intake within the normal range) were studied during two to five 24-hour periods between 1 and 6 months of lactation.Results: Between 1 and 3 months of lactation, the frequency of breastfeeding sessions decreased, whereas both the median and maximum breastmilk intakes during each breastfeeding session increased. These parameters remained constant between 3 and 6 months. The duration of each breastfeeding session decreased steadily from 1 to 6 months, but the total 24-hour milk intake remained constant.Conclusions: Breastfeeding becomes more efficient between 1 and 3 months of lactation, although milk intake remains constant. Clinicians can give mothers confidence that these changes in breastfeeding behavior do not indicate insufficient milk supply, but may be a result of the increase in the stomach capacity of the infants and are an expected outcome of a healthy, normal breastfeeding relationship. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11781 10.1089/bfm.2012.0141 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers restricted |
| spellingShingle | Kent, J. Hepworth, A. Sherriff, Jill Cox, D. Mitoulas, L. Hartmann, P. Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation |
| title | Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation |
| title_full | Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation |
| title_fullStr | Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation |
| title_short | Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation |
| title_sort | longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11781 |