Correlation of Mother Milk Sodium Levels in Term Mothers with Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Aims: To estimate the mean breast milk sodium levels in term Pakistani mothers and to study the correlation between breast milk sodium levels and transcutaneous bilirubin levels in their exclusively breast fed term neonates. Methods: In the present study, 101 healthy mothers and their full term, exclusively breast fed neonates born by normal delivery or Lower Segment Caesarean Section, admitted in BVH, Bahawalpur were included. The testing procedure and protocol were explained to the mothers and informed consent was obtained. A detailed history regarding age, parity, demography, mode of delivery and breast related problems were noted. A volume of 5ml of breast milk was expressed manually between 48 to 72 hours of delivery and analysed for sodium levels using flame photometry. Transcutaneous bilirubin levels of each neonate were tested using Drager Jaundice Meter JM-103 between 48 to 72 hours of birth. Breast milk sodium levels and transcutaneous bilirubin levels were analysed statistically to find out the correlation between the two. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 25±3.8 yrs . 55 mothers were primipara while the rest were multipara. 64 mothers had full term normal delivery and 37 delivered by Lower Segment Caesarean Section. The mean birth weight of the new born was 2.91±0.44 kg. The mean breast milk sodium levels were found to be 2.73±2.10 mEq/dl with a range between 0.02 to 8.85 mEq/dl. The level of TcB was found to be 11.20±3.35 mg/dl with a range of 2.9 to 19.9 mg/dl. A positive correlation was found between BMNa and TcB, but it was not statistically significant.