Effects of instituting the "BEST Program" (Breast Milk Early Saves Trouble) in a level III NICU.

A program is developed to increase the use of breast milk during the first week, for patients<2 kg birth weight. This is termed the "BEST program," using the acronym "Breast milk Early Saves Trouble." An analysis of feeding practices and outcomes during the 12 months before versus the 12 months after implementing this program was conducted. Demographic features of the patients in the 2 periods were similar. In the "Before Intervention" period, 33% received human milk exclusively in the first 7 feeding days; 50% in the "Intervention" period (P=.009). In the Before Intervention period, 74% received some breast milk; 82% in the Intervention group (P=.046). Banked human milk increased from 2% to 33% of patients (P>or=.001), and a trend was seen in more mothers who initially wanted to bottle-feed but subsequently changed to breastfeeding (P=.08). A trend was also seen in more infants discharged home breastfeeding (P=.09).