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Biomedical subjects

D P Davies

Publications and source records attributed to D P Davies.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Bacteriological criteria for feeding raw breast-milk to babies on neonatal units.

Aerobic cultures of 207 samples of drip breast-milk from seventy mothers in hospital showed that 6 (3%) were sterile and 170 (82%) contained only the commensal organisms coagulase-negative staphylococci and Streptococcus viridans. 25 (15%) grew potential pathogens--Staphylococcus aureus in 13 (6%); enterobacteria in 15 (7%); and group-B streptococci in 3 (2%). It is proposed that milk with commensals in any numbers may be considered for use unheated but not milk containing any potential pathogens.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1979

When should pre-term babies be sent home from neonatal units?

20 randomly selected infants of 33 weeks gestation and under at birth were allowed to go home from the neonatal unit provided they were clinically well and had passed the nadir of their postnatal weight-loss and provided home conditions were satisfactory. Weight-gain at home was satisfactory and there was no increased rate of hospital readmission compared with 20 randomly selected pre-term infants who were discharged at a more traditional weight of 2200 g. There is therefore little justification for the widespread practice in Britain of delaying discharge of preterm infants until they reach a predetermined weight (usually 2000--2500 g).

Body Weight↗
PubMed1979

The declining incidence of infantile hypernatremic dehydration in Great Britain.

The feeding habits of 70 infants under 6 months old hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis were studied to determine whether current efforts to discourage high-solute feeding were having an effect on the incidence of hypernatremic dehydration. Fifteen infants (21%) were fed modified (low-solute) milks and 55 (79%) unmodified (high-solute) milks. Of 47 infants under 3 months old, 15 (32%) had commenced mixed feeding. Plasma sodium level was estimated in 60 infants. Mean values in the modified and unmodified groups were the same, at 137 mEq/liter. Only one infant was hypernatremic (sodium level, 152 m/eq/liter). Osmolalities of 65 samples of milk were measured to provide a measure of milk concentration. Only ten (16%) exceeded by more than 25% that recommended by the manufacturers. Twenty-two (34%) were less than 75% of the recommended concentrations. These improved feeding practices have probably contributed largely to the very low incidence of hypernatremia by preventing dangerously high solute intakes at a time of particular vulnerability.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Changes in body proportions over the first year of life: comparisons between 'light-for-dates' and 'appropriate-for-dates' term infants.

The ponderal index (PI) has been used to compare changes in body proportions over the first year of life in light-for-dates (LFD) and appropriate-for-dates (AFD) term infants. At birth the mean PI of the LFD infants was significantly lower than that of the AFD infants, but at 1 year there was no significant difference between the two groups. These findings indicate that LFD infants increase their weight relatively more than their length over the first year of postnatal life, to become similarly proportioned to AFD infants.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1979

Nutritional status of light-for-date infants at birth and its influence on early postnatal growth.

The ponderal index (PI) (g/cm3 X 100) was used to define the state of nutrition at birth of 47 light-for-date (LFD) term infants and to determine how intrauterine undernutrition influences growth during the first 6 months of postnatal life, at four age intervals: birth--4, 5--8, 9--12, 13--26 weeks. With the exception of one baby, each PI was less than 50th centile on the Miller and Hassanein standards: in 24 (51%) babies the PI was less than 3rd centile. This suggests that, generally, LFD infants are underweight for length, and by inference, are likely to have experienced intrauterine undernutrition. In the first month the 24 'wasted' infants (PI less than 3rd centile) gained more rapidly in weight, and grew more quickly in head circumference and length than the 16 'nonwasted' infants (PI greater than 10th centile). Thereafter growth rates were similar. With the exception of weight in the 'nonwasted' infants during the first month, rates of growth (weight, length, and head circumference) in both groups of babies in each of the 3 months after birth were greater than in normal infants. The first 3 months after birth can therefore be defined as the period of 'catch-up' growth in LFD term infants.

Body Height↗
PubMed1978

When and why are babies weaned?

A prospective study was designed to investigate the weaning practices of 50 primiparous mothers whose babies were born between September 1976 and March 1978. The question whether the age of weaning influenced growth from birth to 6 months was also considered. The mothers and babies were seen in hospital and then at a follow-up clinic at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. Details were taken of feeding practices, and measurements made of the babies' weight, length, and subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses. Seventeen infants who were breastfed received their first solid food at a mean age of 13.8 weeks, compared with 8.3 weeks for the 33 bottle-fed infants. Most (38) mothers weaned because they though their babies were hungry (crying after a feed or demanding more frequent feeds, or both). The age of weaning did not influence weight gain, growth in length, or change in skinfold thicknesses. The results suggest that the "4-month rule" for weaning is unrealistic. The decision to wean should be based more on the mother's interpretation of her baby's needs than on age alone.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

Nutrition and early growth of preterm infants.

Recent studies have renewed the controversy over what should constitute the best milk for preterm infants. While pooled human breast milk continues to be widely recommended it seems for reasons poorly understood not to allow adequate early post-natal growth. In view of possible programming of later growth and neuropsychological development by early nutritional experiences there is a need to further research the question of what should constitute optimum nutrition for preterm infants. We suggest that modifying or finding natural modifications in human milk rather than further altering cow's milk might provide some of the answers. Particular attention also needs to be given to long-term neurological, anthropometric and psychological assessment to relate functional outcome to early nutritional experiences.

Body Composition↗
PubMed1977

Effects of solid foods on growth of bottle-fed infants in first three months of life.

We studied 821 infants who were bottle-fed from birth to determine whether non-milk solids begun within the first 3 monts of life affect early growth. The infants were seen seven to 10 days and three months after birth. They were divided into three groups-those who had started solids before 6 weeks of age (657 infants); those who had started solids between the ages of 6 weeks and 3 months (124 infants); and those given cow's milk formulae alone during the first three months (40 infants). The infants were weighed and measured seven to 10 days after birth and at three months. Mean weekly rates of weight and length gain over the 3 months were calculated and did not differ significantly between the three groups. As no record was made of quantities of food taken we cannot explain the failure of solid foods to affect growth. Studies of how young infants utilise these foods are needed.

Bottle Feeding↗
PubMed1977

Failure to thrive at the breast: an old problem revisited.

Four apparently normal breast-fed infants failed to thrive when fed on demand. They all shared a tendency to accept long intervals between feeds from birth. Infant welfare clinics should be alerted to this problem. If infants who attend these clinics are accurately weighed and their progress carefully recorded on weight charts this insidiously developing complaint could be detected earlier and with appropriate advice, a potentially serious condition averted.

Breast Feeding↗