Author(s): Mohammed Faisal, Syed Manazir Ali, Maroof Jilani Khan, Azra J. Ahmed
To study and compare the weight gain pattern of Exclusively Breastfed Low birth weight and normal weight babies during the first six months of life in Neonatology Section of the Department of Pediatrics of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. A prospective Study was conducted between June 2004 to December 2005. Three hundred and sixty three low birth weight babies cases) and 121 normal birth weight babies (controls) formed the basis of this study. Follow up of these babies was done during regular visits to well baby clinic over the next six months at monthly interval. All low birth weight babies born of singleton pregnancy in JN Medical college hospital without any gross congenital malformations during a period of six months and their mothers were included in the study. Controls were term appropriate for gestational age (AGA) babies born of singleton pregnancy without any complications. The mean birth weight was 2.04±0.36kg in study group whereas it was 2.84±0.29kg in con-trols. The mean weight of exclusively breastfed babies in the study group was observed to be constantly below the 5th percentile at birth and also during the 6 months follow up. However in exclusively breastfed controls, the birth weight was at 10th percentile. On follow up, the weight was between 10th to 25th percentile in the first 3 months of life and then almost reached 25th percentile of NCHS in the next 3 months. An average daily weight gain of 19.83 grams and 22.79 grams was observed in study and control group respectively during the six months follow up. Exclusive breastfeeding is important to sustain better growth during first 6 months of life.