The Positive Effect on Preterm Infants' Feeding of Human Milk During Hospitalization and at Discharge after the Opening of a Personalized Nutrition Unit.

Abstract

Background: Pasteurized donor human milk must be provided when mother's own milk (MOM) is not available for preterm infants. There are concerns that human milk banks (HMBs) and the use of donor milk may potentially reduce breastfeeding rates. Objective: To compare feeding during hospitalization and at discharge before and after the opening of a HMB and to evaluate the proportion of milk provided by mothers of premature babies, comparing the intake of MOM in infants born of donor and no donor mothers. Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study. Data on milk intake and feeding at discharge of newborns <1,500 grams and/or 32 weeks gestational age. Results: There were significant differences in the intake of preterm formula (PF) between the two groups in the first 28 days of life (87.8% versus 54.2%; p = 0.000) and at discharge (34% versus 18.2%; p = 0.000). The intake of MOM during hospitalization (90.5% versus 100%; p = 0.008) and exclusive breastfeeding at discharge (18.7% versus 61.8%; p = 0.000) increased and the intake of PF (71.4% versus 33.8%; p = 0.000) and exclusive PF (EPF) at discharge decreased (27.5% versus 7,3%; p = 0.000) for babies whose mothers were or were not donors. Mothers of preterm babies donated 57.6% of the total milk received by the milk bank. Conclusion: After the opening of a HMB, there was a decrease in PF intake during hospitalization and an increase in MOM intake at discharge in preterm babies, especially for those whose mothers were milk donors.