Lactation performance of mothers with contrasting nutritional status in rural Kenya.

Breastmilk yields and its composition during the first 6 months of lactation were measured in 46 women with low weight-for-height during the third trimester of pregnancy (WH minus group) and in 52 mothers with good weight-for-height in the same period (WH plus group). On average WH minus mothers produced 695 g per 24 hours and WH plus mothers 790 g. In the WH minus group yield was affected by feeding frequency, season, mother's energy intake during lactation and infant's weight-for-age. In the WH plus group feeding frequence, parity and sex were the affecting variables (male infants consumed more milk). The difference in yield between WH minus and WH plus mothers corrected for feeding frequency, sex and season was significant but was only 80 g per 24 hours. Protein and lactose concentrations in milk were in both groups comparable with that of British mothers, fat concentrations were lower.