SUMMARY Plasma bilirubin was estimated on 690 term infants on about the 6th day of life. Perinatal factors were recorded and the results analysed. Hyperbilirubinaemia was defined as a level >205,umol/l (12 mg/100 ml) and this was present in 20% of cases. Three factors-epidural analgesia, breast feeding, and poor weight recovery-showed highly significant associations with jaundice. The relative importance of these is discussed and compared with recent reports. Induction of labour, for reasons other than postmaturity, and a gestational age <39 weeks showed a slightly increased incidence of jaundice. There was no correlation with other factors tested including oxytocic drug administration. Despite the high incidence (20 %) of hyperbilirubinaemia, only 2.5 % infants needed treatment and none required exchange transfusion. Radical (Ghosh and Hudson, 1972;Davidson et al., 1973;Eden et al., 1974;Gould et al., 1974;Chalmers et al., 1975

Summary and conclusionsAfter preliminary validation of test weighing under ward conditions the fluid intake and weight gain of 39 breast-fed and 25 artificially fed infants were compared. All were fed every four hours for six feeds a day, and the breast-fed infants received dextrose supplements only. The average intake and weight gain of the breastfed group was significantly less than that of the group fed artificially.When cows'-milk supplements are withheld from breast-fed infants a four-hourly regimen provides insufficient stimulus to lactation for their needs in the first week of life. If more than lip service is to be paid to the mother who desires to breast-feed in hospital, early and more frequent feeding should be practised.