Examining the effect of newborn feeding method on postnatal length of stay and healthcare utilisation among…

Cohort studyBMJ paediatrics open· Aug 2026

Examining the effect of newborn feeding method on postnatal length of stay and healthcare utilisation among Neonates With In-utero SSRI Exposure (NeoWISE): a retrospective cohort study.

Christina Cantin, Wenbin Li, Erna Snelgrove-Clarke … Laura Gaudet

NeonatologyCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 2.4

Exclusive breastfeeding linked to higher hospital readmission risk in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-exposed newborns.

Examining the effect of newborn feeding method on postnatal length of stay and healthcare utilisation among Neonates With In-utero SSRI Exposure (NeoWISE): a retrospective cohort study.

Christina Cantin … Laura Gaudet

BMJ paediatrics open · Aug 2026 · Q1 in Pediatrics

Background

Up to 30% of in-utero selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)-exposed newborns experience withdrawal and up to 60% experience behavioural impacts.

Purpose

We aimed to identify whether newborn feeding method affected healthcare utilisation in the first 30 days of postnatal life among Neo nates W ith I n-utero S SRI E xposure (NeoWISE).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included newborns born in Ontario hospitals between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2020 to beneficiaries of the Ontario Drug Benefit Program who filled at least one selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor prenatal prescription.

n = 5079 NeoWISE participants

Results

exclusively breastfed newborns had higher odds of being readmitted, mainly for jaundice

adjRR 0.84 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.97)

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

The cohort included a total of 5079 NeoWISE participants, with 3321 (65.4%) exclusively breastfed.

Formula-fed infants were more likely to have older mothers with an urban residence, lower income quintile, prior live birth, who smoked at delivery and to be born via caesarean delivery; these imbalances were balanced after propensity score weighting.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Women taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication during pregnancy should receive anticipatory guidance about newborn feeding effectiveness, signs of jaundice and when to seek healthcare after birth.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

In-hospital feeding method was associated with emergency department visits and hospital readmission among NeoWISE. Breastfeeding cessation was not measured and could have affected estimated associations.

Examining the effect of newborn feeding method on postnatal length of stay and healthcare utilisation among Neonates With In-utero SSRI Exposure (NeoWISE): a retrospective cohort study.

Examining the effect of newborn feeding method on postnatal length of stay and healthcare utilisation among Neonates With In-utero SSRI Exposure (NeoWISE): a retrospective cohort study.

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