Readmission of Breastfed Infants in the First 2 Weeks of Life

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Readmission of breastfeeding infants for hyperbilirubinemia and/or dehydration has been increasing in recent years. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the indications for and condition of these infants at readmission, and to determine factors present prior to initial hospital discharge which might have identified them to be at risk. STUDY DESIGN: The records of 125 breastfeeding infants who were admitted to Children's Mercy Hospital from 1995 to 1997 in the first 2 weeks of life with diagnoses of hyperbilirubinemia, dehydration, or feeding problems were reviewed. Infants with hemolytic disease, infection, or other underlying causes were excluded. At readmission, 80 infants had total bilirubin levels >342 μmol/l (20 mg/dl) and gestational age ≥38 weeks or total bilirubin levels >308 μmol/l (18 mg/dl) and gestational age p=0.003). The Cesarean birth rate (9%) was disproportionally low in infants readmitted compared with overall C-section rate in Kansas City, MO (17%) (p=0.03). There was a significantly lower rate of readmission for infants whose initial hospital stay was ≥3 days (p=p=0.1). Infants admitted for hyperbilirubinemia only were at 38.3±1.6 weeks gestation compared with infants admitted for excessive weight loss or hypernatremia, 39.2±1.3 (p=0.06), and 1 day older, 5.4±1.9 days vs. 4.4±2.5 days (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that prematurity and short hospital stays are risk factors for readmission of breastfeeding infants with hyperbilirubinemia and/or excessive weight loss and hypernatremia. An initial hospital stay ≥3 days was associated with a reduced risk for readmission of these infants.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: