Effect of Egg Supplementation for Breast Milk Production at 48 hour Postpartum

Abstract

Objective:

To compare breast milk volume at 48 hour postpartum between mothers who received eggs supplementation and control group.

Materials and Methods: From June 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010, 100 women without any complication who delivered healthy term babies with birth weight 2500 grams or more at Nakhon Nayok Hospital Nakhon Nayok, Thailand were recruited for this study. They were randomly allocated to receive either ordinary postpartum diet or ordinary postpartum diet with 1 hard-boiled egg per meal for 3 meals a day for 2 days. Both groups gave exclusive breastfeeding with three suckling techniques (early suckling, frequent suckling, correct suckling). Breast milk volume of both breasts was measured at 48 hours postpartum by electric breast milk pump (SPECTRA Brand) for 15 minutes.

Results: Maternal baseline characteristics: maternal age, body mass indexes (BMI), gestational age, parity, hematocrit, urine specific gravity and blood pressure were not different between groups. Median and mean breast milk volume in the study group was significantly higher than those in the control group.

Conclusion: Eggs supplementation significantly increases the breast milk production at 48 hours postpartum.