Plasma Glucose Levels in Exclusively Breastfed Newborns in the First 48 Hours of Life in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding of newborns in maintaining a normal blood glucose level in the first 48 hours of life. One hundred and twelve consecutive newborns were initially recruited and 91 completed the study. All neonates of mothers with complicated pregnancy such as diabetes, hypertension and infections were excluded from the study. Maternal and cord glucose estimation were carried out within 30 minutes of delivery. All mothers were assisted in positioning and attaching their babies to the breast. All newborn were weighed and glucose levels were measured at 24 and 48 hours of life before breastfeeding. All mothers were euglycaemic while seven neonates had plasma glucose level less than 1.7 mmol/l at birth. Only one neonate had persistent hypoglycemia from birth to 12 hours of age and required treatment. All other neonates had blood glucose level above 1.7 mmol/l at 24 and 48 hours of life. The weight loss was 0.176 +/- 0.134 kg and 0.211+/-0.157 kg at 24 and 48 hours respectively. We therefore conclude that the exclusively breastfed newborns have adequate glucose supply and are not at risk of having hypoglycemia in the first 48 hours of life.

Nursing and midwifery management of hypoglycaemia in healthy term neonates

“…The definition of hypoglycaemia varied between studies – from serum/plasma glucose levels of 1.7 mmol/L, 26 <2.2 mmol/L at or before 24 h and <2.5 mmol/L at 72 h, 8 <2.2 mmol/L 20 and <2.5 mmol/L 19…”

“…Adejuyigbe et al. 26 measured the cord blood of mothers and infants at 15 min after birth, with subsequent sample measurements taken from a peripheral vein. Hoseth et al.…”

“…Adejuyigbe et al. 26 measured plasma glucose by the glucose oxidase/peroxidase method of Raabo and Terkildsen, Diwakar and Sasidhar 8 by the glucose oxidase method in a Hitachi autoanalyser 902, Hoseth et al. 24 by the glucose dehydrogenase method in a Hitachi 911 analyser.…”

“…Laboratory analysis using the glucose oxidase reaction method (Adejuyigbe et al. 26 and Diwakar and Sasidhar 8 ) is also likely to be accurate 27 . It is not possible to comment on the Durand et al.…”

“…Adejuyigbe et al. 26 sampled at 0.25, 24 and 48 h; Diwakar and Sasidhar 8 sampled at 3, 6, 24 and 72 h; Durand et al. 18 at birth and 2 h; Sweet et al.…”