The impact of human milk feeding modality (breast vs bottle) on infant growth during the first 6 months postnatal
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2023-06
Authors
Dhawan, Sana
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mount Saint Vincent University
Abstract
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months, but expressing, or pumping milk has become common in high-income settings. While feeding human milk has long been equated with breastfeeding, there is some evidence of differences in feeding responsiveness and other feeding behaviours differing by feeding modality, that is, directly breast-feeding, or mixed breast- and bottle-feeding expressed human milk, that may impact infant growth. There is paucity of research comparing infant growth by human milk feeding modality. Additionally, discrepancies in infant growth measuring practices by healthcare practitioners could further complicate interpretation of infant growth data.