Pattern of breastfeeding in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques at Royan institute from birth to 6 months in Tehran - Iran

To determine the pattern of breastfeeding in infants who conceived by assisted reproductive techniques [ART]. In a cross-sectional study, 312 infants were selected by the non-random consecutive method from ART infants who referred by Royan institute to Child Health Research Department. Infants were born between Septembers 2007and September 2009 in Tehran. Infant nutrition, mother age, ART techniques, birth growth indexes, beginning time and the kind of nutrition and growth pattern until 6 months were considered. Breastfed infants were 110[35.2%], 46[14.7%] ones were formula fed and 156[50%] were both. The rate of breastfeeding on the first day after birth in neonates with the low birth weight were less than normal birth weight ones .Approximately 36.8% of infants who had normal increase of weight and height till 6 months, began feeding on the first day of life. Mothers' age and ART technique did not affect the beginning time and kind of infants feeding. The most important factor which affects ART infants' nutrition pattern is their birth weight. The beginning time of feeding affects their weight and length increase till 6 months. Based on reproductive techniques, breastfeeding was similar in different methods of ART

Congenital anomalies in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques

Many studies show that congenital defects in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques [ART] are more than infants of normal conception [NC]. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of congenital anomalies in ART infants from Royan Institute and to compare congenital anomalies between two ART techniques. In a cross-sectional descriptive study, 400 ART infants from Royan Institute who resided in Tehran were selected by non-random, consecutive sampling. Infants were examined twice [until 9 months of age] by a pediatrician. Infants' congenital anomalies were described by each body system or organ and type of ART. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 and Fisher's exact test. The frequency of different organ involvement in the two examinations were: 40 [10%] skin, 25 [6.2%] urogenital system, 21 [5.2%] gastrointestinal tract, 13 [3.2%] visual, and 8 [2%] cardiovascular system. Major congenital defects in infants conceived by in vitro fertilization [IVF] and intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] were hypospadiasis, inguinal hernia, patent ductus arteriosus plus ventricular septal defect [PDA + VSD], developmental dysplasia of the hip, lacrimal duct stenosis during the first year of life, hydronephrosis and urinary reflux over grade III, undescending testis, ureteropelvic junction stenosis, and torticoli. Two-thirds of ART infants had no defects. A total of 7% of IVF and ICSI infants had one of the major abovementioned congenital anomalies. This rate was higher than NC infants [2%-3%]. There was no difference between the ICSI and IVF group