Evaluating of supplementary feeding in breastfed infants

Abstract

The aim of the study: to assess supplementary feeding in breastfed neonate, evaluate infant and maternal indications for supplementation in healthy infants. Methods. An anonymous voluntary survey about supplementary feeding of 50 women who has breastfed children and visited the hospital for various reasons, not related to breastfeeding. According to the results of survey, the main reason for starting supplementary feeding was the insufficient amount of breast milk in the mother (63,20%). Other reasons included: low body weight of the child, illness of the mother, difficulties in applying to the breast, restlessness of the child. After the introduction of supplementary food, only 3,80% of children were returned to exclusively breastfeeding, 22,20% - remained on mixed feeding until the introduction of complementary food, and 29,60% had artificial feeding. The majority of women (74,10%) did not use any methods to improve lactation. Half of the surveyed mothers (56,00%) who introduced supplementary feeding gave milk formula to feed their child and used bottle feeding (32,60%) and spoon feeding (21,30%). Conclusions: the majority of interviewed women had a shortage of breast milk, which was the main reason for the introduction of supplementary food; the best supplementary food product is mother's or donor's milk; a third part of the surveyed women used bottle feeding; the decision to introduce supplementary food should be made by the doctor individually to every child.