Didier Tshamala1, Anita Pelecanos2, Mark W Davies3. 1. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Mater Mother's Newborn Care Services, Mater Mothers' Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 2. Statistics Unit, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 3. Department of Neonatology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
AIM: To determine the proportion of very preterm infants who were exclusively fed breast milk at the time of discharge home, before and after the availability of pasteurised donor human milk (PDHM). METHODS: This was an observational retrospective cohort study with historical comparison, comparing two cohorts (<32 weeks gestational age or very low birthweight) before and after the availability of donor human milk. The main explanatory variable was the PDHM cohort: pre-PDHM or post-PDHM. The primary dichotomous outcome variable was defined as whether the baby was being fed with breast milk only at the time of discharge home, compared with those fed with artificial formula alone or mixed feeding (artificial formula and breast milk). RESULTS: There were 1088 babies in the pre-PDHM cohort and 330 in the post-PDHM cohort (total n = 1418). Following the introduction of PDHM, 56% (185/330) were exclusively fed breast milk at the time of hospital discharge and 57% (620/1088) in the pre-PDHM cohort. The availability of PDHM is not a significant predictor of feeding outcome upon discharge (P = 0.45) when adjusted for maternal age, log-transformed post-natal age at discharge home and any congenital abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of donor human milk in our unit is not associated with a decrease in the number of very preterm infants receiving mother's own breast milk at time of discharge home. Other factors that positively impact the successful establishment of breastfeeding in preterm babies were older maternal age, the absence of any congenital abnormality and a shorter duration of hospital stay.
AIM: To determine the proportion of very preterm infants who were exclusively fed breast milk at the time of discharge home, before and after the availability of pasteurised donorhuman milk (PDHM). METHODS: This was an observational retrospective cohort study with historical comparison, comparing two cohorts (<32 weeks gestational age or very low birthweight) before and after the availability of donorhuman milk. The main explanatory variable was the PDHM cohort: pre-PDHM or post-PDHM. The primary dichotomous outcome variable was defined as whether the baby was being fed with breast milk only at the time of discharge home, compared with those fed with artificial formula alone or mixed feeding (artificial formula and breast milk). RESULTS: There were 1088 babies in the pre-PDHM cohort and 330 in the post-PDHM cohort (total n = 1418). Following the introduction of PDHM, 56% (185/330) were exclusively fed breast milk at the time of hospital discharge and 57% (620/1088) in the pre-PDHM cohort. The availability of PDHM is not a significant predictor of feeding outcome upon discharge (P = 0.45) when adjusted for maternal age, log-transformed post-natal age at discharge home and any congenital abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of donorhuman milk in our unit is not associated with a decrease in the number of very preterm infants receiving mother's own breast milk at time of discharge home. Other factors that positively impact the successful establishment of breastfeeding in preterm babies were older maternal age, the absence of any congenital abnormality and a shorter duration of hospital stay.
Authors: Anita Esquerra-Zwiers; Michael E Schoeny; Janet Engstrom; Jennifer Wicks; Jennifer Szotek; Paula Meier; Aloka L Patel Journal: Breastfeed Med Date: 2020-12-16 Impact factor: 1.817