不同嬰兒哺餵方式對產後婦女體組成變化之影響

This study evaluated changes in the postpartum maternal body composition with 3 different feeding methods including exclusively breast feeding, exclusively formula-feeding, and a combination of breast feeding and formula feeding. Subjects were recruited from the Postpartum Nursing Care Center or obstetrics ward of Taipei City Hospital. Three groups of women containing a total of 73 participants were included according to the method of infant feeding employed during the first 6 months. There were 56 subjects who completed the study, with 31 in breast-feeding group, 14 in the combination group and 11 in formula-feeding group. Body weight loss was recorded, and a bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to measure body composition changes at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum. Results showed that there were no differences in body weight gain during pregnancy, and postpartum body weight retention did not differ among the 3 different feeding groups. However, compared to the first month, breast-feeding women had a lower body fat mass, fat percent, waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio at 6 month postpartum, whereas only waist circumference changes were found in the formula-feeding group. These results suggest that although breast-feeding mothers did not reduce postpartum weight retention compared to women using the formula- and combinationfeeding methods, lactation still had favorable effects on postpartum body shape recovery and had general health benefits in women.