Examining weight gain: A retrospective study on preterm newborn growth on a diet exclusively of fortified donor breast milk

Abstract

Preterm newborns born at <32 weeks gestational age are at an increased risk of developing multiple comorbidities. When a mother's own milk is unavailable as a source of nutrition, pasteurized donor breast milk may be used as a substitute. Recent studies using fortified donor breast milk have demonstrated that post-natal growth may be achieved comparable to a mother's own milk. Using data from our milk laboratory charts of preterm newborns exclusively fed fortified donor breast milk, the present study focused on weight gain in relation to the volume of feeds received. The micro-preemie group averaged feeds at the goal volume of 140-170 ml/kg/day for 34% of the time, with the weight gain goal of 15-20 g/kg/day met 30% of the time on average. The extremely low birth weight group averaged feeds at the goal volume of 140-170 ml/kg/day for 70% of the time, with the weight gain goal of 15-20 g/kg/day met 34% of the time on average. The very low birth weight group averaged feeds at the goal volume of 140-170 ml/kg/day for 56% of the time and achieved the weight gain goal of 15-20 g/kg/day 21% of the time, on average. On the whole, the findings of the present study indicate that standard growth goals may be realized with fortified donor breast milk fed at a goal volume.