Dehydration and hypernatremia in breast-fed term healthy neonates.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of significant weight loss, dehydration, hypernatremia and hyperbilirubinemia in exclusively breast-fed term healthy neonates and compare the incidence of these problems in the warm and cool months. METHODS: During the study period 496 neonates were recruited. RESULTS: 157 neonates (31.6%) had significant weight loss (> 10 % cumulative weight loss or per day weight loss > 5%). Clinical dehydration was present in 2.2% of neonates. Of these 157 neonates, 31.8% had hypernatremia and 28 % had hyperbilirubinemia. CONCLUSION: The incidence of the above mentioned problems were higher in the warm months but the difference was not statistically significant.