Neonatal hypernatraemia at this level, in this population, is strongly associated with weight loss. It occurs almost exclusively after attempts to initiate breast feeding, occurs uncommonly and does not appear to be associated with serious short term morbidities, beyond admission to hospital.

Prospective, population based surveillance study over 13 months using the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit

Of 62 cases of SNH reported (7, 95% CI 5.4 to 9.0 per 1 00 000 live births), 61 mothers had intended to achieve exclusive breast feeding.

Infants presented at median day 6 (range 2–17) with median weight loss of 19.5% (range 8.9–30.9).

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