Effect of formula and breast milk feeding on random blood sugar values in healthy full term babies in the first 48 hours after birth

Abstract

Abstract:Background : Abnormal low blood glucose levels can cause long term neurological injury such as cerebral palsy in infancy. Objective: study the effect of the type of feeding (breast or artificial) on neonatal hypoglycemia. Method: One hundred full term healthy babies all of them product of cesarean section (for easy follow up) were included in this study divided into two groups their blood glucose checked in the 1st 48 hours of their life at fixed times using special device GLUCUTREND® 2.Results: forty eight full term babies were in group 1 on milk formula, 52 babies were in group 2 on breast milk. In both groups no statistical significance found between male & female or all. Also we noticed an increase in the random blood sugar with time in both groups. Of 100 babies 6 only showed manifestation of hypoglycemia (jitteriness). Also no statistical significance found in random blood sugar in both groups. We found the range at which hypoglycemia showed manifestation (jitteriness) around 35-40mg/dl in the 1st 10 hours after birth taking in consideration that sometimes no standard level for hypoglycemia can showed the manifestation but it depend on symptoms & signs.Conclusions & recommendations: hypoglycemia in neonates and its complications can be avoided by the early starting of feeding whatever its type.