Factors associated with breastfeeding in infants with trisomy 21.

PURPOSE: To investigate the duration of breastfeeding (BF) and exclusive BF in infants with T21 and to verify the association between clinical and myofunctional orofacial conditions and the presence of BF and exclusive BF in the sixth month and in the first year of life. METHODS: This was a prospective, longitudinal, observational study with 90 infants with T21. Parents answered two questionnaires about clinical and BF conditions, one in the sixth and the other in the 12th month of the infant's life. Habitual lip and tongue posture was obtained through videos, and clinical history was obtained through medical records. The presence of BF and exclusive BF in the sixth and 12th months was associated with clinical and myofunctional orofacial conditions using Pearson's chi-square test, with a 5% significance level. RESULTS: There were associations between male infants and the presence of BF/exclusive BF at the sixth month; formula use and absence of BF; BF in the first hour and the presence of BF in the first year; lung disease and BF in the first year; BF difficulties and BF in the sixth month; BF in the sixth month and latching difficulties; low milk production and absence of BF in the first year; pacifier use and absence of BF in the sixth month and of BF in the first year. CONCLUSION: Sex, lung disease, formula use, BF in the first hour of life, self-reported BF difficulties, low milk production, and pacifier use were factors associated with BF in infants with T21.