Nutritional status of lactanting adolescents in different postpartum weeks - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

PURPOSE: to evaluate changes in the nutritional status of lactating adolescents in different postpartum weeks. METHOD: this is an analytical, observational, longitudinal study. Lactating adolescents were followed-up from the 5th to the 15th postpartum week (PPW). The nutritional status was evaluated in the 5th, 10th and 15th PPW by the Body Mass Index (BMI/age). A colorimetric method was used to determine hemoglobin level and microcentrifugation to define hematocrit. ANOVA with repeated measures was used to compare means, followed by the Tukey post-test. The level of significance was 5%. RESULTS: modification in nutritional status was observed from the pregestational period to the 15th PPW, with a reduction in the frequency of lactating adolescents with low weight (from 21% to 9%) and a rise in the frequency of overweight (21% to 27%) and eutrophic (58% to 64%) adolescents. Although mean hemoglobin (12.3±1.7 g/dL) and hematocrit (39.0±4.0%) levels were normal, a high frequency of anemia (30%) was observed throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: the present results show that the body weight of lactating adolescents rises during the lactation period and could lead to a higher frequency of obesity among adolescents. Anemia is still a nutritional problem, not only during pregnancy, but also during the postpartum period. It is necessary to prevent and treat probable subclinical nutritional deficiencies at this biological time.