Impact of an early weighing policy on neonatal hypernatraemic dehydration and breast feeding

Aims:To ascertain the effect of a policy of early weighing on the detection and severity of neonatal hypernatraemic dehydration (NHD) and on breastfeeding rates in the short and medium term.Methods:A policy of weighing infants at 72–96 h was introduced from 1 July 2004. Two time periods were studied: pre-policy and post-policy (18 months each). Babies 145 mmol/l were identified. Age, plasma sodium concentration, percentage loss of body weight at presentation, breastfeeding rates at discharge and at 8 weeks, and complications due to hypernatraemia or its management were compared between the two groups.Results:60 cases of NHD were identified: 23 before and 37 after introduction of the policy. After the policy, there was earlier recognition of NHD (median 3 vs 6 days), lower percentage weight loss (11% vs 15%), smaller increase in sodium (147 vs 150 mmol/l), and higher breastfeeding rate at discharge (73% vs 22%) and 8 weeks (57% vs 22%). All the differences were significant (p