Purpose: Very little is known about the prevalence of regurgitations in human milk–fed infants
in the first days of life. The authors aimed to compare the frequency of regurgitations
in formula- and breastfed infants in the first 2 days of life. It was hypothesized that human
milk–fed infants experience less episodes of regurgitations than their formula-fed counterparts.
Design, Sample, and Outcome Variables: Thirty-two (32) infants were formula fed and 31
were breastfed. In both groups, infants were fed ad libitum, as soon as the mother was ready
to feed the infant. All regurgitations were noted on a collection form.
Results: The number of regurgitations per infant in the first 48 hours of life was similar in
breastfed (range 0 to 7) and formula-fed infants (range 0 to 8). There was also no difference
in the number of regurgitations in the first or second 24-hour period. Eighteen of 31 of infants
in the breastfed group and 17/32 in the formula fed groups had at least one episode of
regurgitation during the 48-hour period.
Conclusions: Contrary to this hypothesis, human milk feeding did not confer a "protection"
on regurgitations in these young neonates.
