Breastfeeding Patterns of Low-Birth-Weight Infants After Hospital Discharge

Objective: To examine the feeding patterns of low-birth-weight infants (1,500-2,500 g) on the day of hospital discharge and 4 weeks after birth. Design: Prospective, descriptive survey. Setting: Eight hospitals in the Midwest. Participants: One hundred ten mothers who intended to breastfeed their low-birth-weight infants. Main Outcome Measures: Two different tools were used to address infant breastfeeding patterns and effectiveness of infant feeding at the breast as reported and rated by the mothers. Results: At hospital discharge, 38% of the infants were exclusively fed at the breast. Only 52% of the full-term, low-birth-weight infants and 52% of the preterm low-birth-weight infants had effective vigorous feedings at the breast at hospital discharge as rated by the mothers. At 4 weeks, 40% of the infants were fed exclusively at the breast and 19% were weaned to formula. Conclusions: The several feeding patterns and modes of feeding identified with low-birth-weight infants suggest that appropriate tools be designed and tested with mothers of low-birth-weight infants. In addition, the definition of breastfeeding must be explored. JOGNN, 26, 189-197; 1997.