GROWTH PATTERN OF EXCLUSIVELY AN D NONEXCLUSIVELY BR EA ST-FED INFANTS IN THE FIRST 4 MONTHS OF LIFE

Thirty-two exclusive and twenty-seven non-exclusively breast-fed infants were followed-up from birth to 4 months of age in a maternity hospital, with a rooming-in program. Face to face BF education was given to mothers in two groups after delivery and also during 4 months post-partum. Body weight (Wt ), length (L) and head circumference (HC) of the infants were measured at monthly intervals, and their feeding patterns were recorded. The Wt of exclusively breastfed infants was higher than non-exclusively breast-fed infants. The faltering of infant's growth from 3 months of age was seen in both groups. From the age of 3 months, the Wt of non-exclusively breast-fed infants was lower than the 50th percentile of the reference value (NCHS), but Land HC increments were similar in both groups. Mean Wt, Land HC of exclusively breast-fed female infants were higher compared to non-exclusive females and also higher than exclusive male and non-exclusively breast-fed male infants. In the present study, the faltering of growth of infants was seen in the first 4 months of age, in comparison to breastfed infants in the Darling study.