Use of donor human milk in nonhospitalized infants: An infant growth study

Bramer, Solange; Boyle, Robert; Weaver, Gillian; Shenker, Natalie

doi:10.1111/mcn.13128

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Some human milk banks provide donor human milk to supplement mother’s own milk when a woman has delivered a health‐term baby but has insufficient lactation. It can also be provided exclusively when there is a medical reason why a woman should not breastfeed 28 . However, there are only a few published studies on these less widespread practices.…”

Section: What Are the True Needs For Donor Human Milk In Neonatal Units?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It can also be provided exclusively when there is a medical reason why a woman should not breastfeed. 28 However, there are only a few published studies on these less widespread practices. This is because human milk banks already struggle to cover all the needs of VLBW infants, and this vulnerable group seems to get the most significant health benefits from donor human milk.…”

Section: What Are the True Needs For Donor H Uman Milk In Neonatal Un...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review highlights the importance of donor human milk being available for very low birth weight infants

Picaud

2022

Acta Paediatrica

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One of the key roles of neonatal units is to support the growth and development of preterm infants during the critical period between birth and term equivalent age. Nutritional care is an important part in this process, as it is crucial that these vulnerable babies receive sufficient nutrients. Human milk makes a major contribution to this goal. It also has an indirect effect on growth and development, by alleviating the risk of complications due to premature birth. 1 Mother's own milk is the first choice for preterm infants, but some mothers find it difficult to produce and sustain enough milk to meet their infants' needs. A survey of 11 European countries showed that, on average, only 58% of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants received any breast milk at discharge and the rates ranged from 36% to 80%. 2 Donor human milk should be the second choice in such cases, as this provides VLBW infants with essential nutritional and bioactive components. It also minimises their exposure to cows' milk formulas, which have been associated with an increased risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). 3

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Section: What Are the True Needs For Donor Human Milk In Neonatal Units?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: What Are the True Needs For Donor H Uman Milk In Neonatal Un...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Review highlights the importance of donor human milk being available for very low birth weight infants

Picaud

2022

Acta Paediatrica

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“…Some felt pride at being able to source milk for their baby, although others found the process of receiving and using DHM stressful [ 18 ]. In 2019 a service evaluation of the Hearts Milk Bank, a new non-profit HMB in the UK, identified recurrent reports from parents who indicated receiving DHM for their baby had reduced their symptoms of anxiety and depression post-partum [ 19 ]. This study sought to add to this literature by conducting a mixed methods study examining the experiences of having received DHM upon parental mental health in a larger sample in the UK.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Receiving screened donor human milk for their infant supports parental wellbeing: a mixed-methods study

Brown

Shenker

2022

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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Background Access to donor human milk (DHM) has primarily been based on the health and development outcomes of premature infants but there has been little examination of the broader impact of an infant receiving it upon parental mental health. Breastfeeding and mental health are closely tied with women who experience breastfeeding difficulties or are unable to meet their own breastfeeding goals often experiencing feelings of guilt, sadness and anger, alongside an increased risk of postnatal depression. The aim of the current study was to explore how experience of receiving DHM for their baby affected the wellbeing of parents. Methods UK parents of infants aged 0 – 12 months who had received screened DHM from a milk bank (typically on the neonatal unit or in some cases in the community) completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences. The questionnaire included Likert scale items examining perceived impact upon infant health, own wellbeing and family functioning alongside open-ended questions exploring perceptions of how receiving DHM affected wellbeing. Results Almost all of the 107 participants (women = 102) agreed that receiving DHM had a positive impact upon infant health and development, their own mental and physical health, and their family’s wellbeing. Parents felt relieved that their infant was receiving DHM for health reasons but also due to the experience of being listened to, supported and having their infant feeding decisions facilitated. Receiving DHM helped mothers to process some of their emotions at not being able to breastfeed, in part because knowing their baby was being fed gave them the space to focus on recovery and bonding with their baby. Some parents did experience challenges, feeling guilty at receiving DHM, insecure that another woman was able to feed their baby when they could not, or negative reactions from family. Although the impact of receiving DHM upon breastfeeding was not measured, some women who were working to build their own milk supply noted that it helped motivate them to continue. Conclusions DHM may play an important role not only in protecting infant health and development but in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of mothers for whom their infant receiving human milk is important.

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“…Further research needs to measure prospectively any potential link between receiving DHM and anxiety and depression, considering the impact of being randomised to receive DHM or not. Our sample was also weighted towards older participants with higher levels of education; this represents a common limitation of survey research but also may re ect who is seeking out and using DHM 19 . In terms of ethnicity our sample is similar to the demographic representation in the UK but likely under-sampled parents from non-White backgrounds given a higher rate or premature birth amongst Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups 56 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some felt pride at being able to source milk for their baby, although others found the process stressful 18 . In 2019 a service evaluation of the Hearts Milk Bank, a new non-pro t HMB in the UK, identi ed recurrent reports from parents who indicated receiving DHM for their baby had reduced their symptoms of anxiety and depression postpartum 19 . This study sought to add to this literature by conducting a larger mixed methods study examining the experiences of having received DHM upon parental mental health in a larger sample in the UK.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Receiving Screened Donor Human Milk for Their Infant Supports Parental Wellbeing: a Mixed-methods Study

Brown

Shenker

2021

Preprint

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Background: Donor human milk (DHM) protects the health and development of premature infants but there has been little examination of the broader impact of an infant receiving it upon parental mental health. Breastfeeding and mental health are closely tied with women who experience breastfeeding difficulties or are unable to meet their own breastfeeding goals often experiencing feelings of guilt, sadness and anger, alongside an increased risk of postnatal depression. The aim of the current study was to explore how experience of receiving DHM for their baby affected the wellbeing of parents.Methods: UK parents of infants aged 0 – 12 months who had received screened DHM from a milk bank (typically on the neonatal unit or in some cases in the community) completed an online questionnaire exploring their experiences. The questionnaire included Likert scale items examining perceived impact upon infant health, own wellbeing and family functioning alongside open-ended questions exploring perceptions of how receiving DHM affected wellbeing.Results: Almost all of the 107 participants (women=102) agreed that receiving DHM had a positive impact upon infant health and development, their own mental and physical health, and their family’s wellbeing. Parents felt relieved that their infant was receiving DHM for health reasons but also due to the experience of being listened to, supported and having their infant feeding decisions facilitated. Receiving DHM helped mothers to process some of their emotions at not being able to breastfeed, in part because knowing their baby was being fed gave them the space to focus on recovery and bonding with their baby. Some parents did experience challenges, feeling guilty at receiving DHM, insecure that another woman was able to feed their baby when they could not, with some negative reactions from family. Although the impact of receiving DHM upon breastfeeding was not measured, some women who were working to build their own milk supply noted that it helped motivate them to continue.Conclusions: DHM may play an important role not only in protecting infant health and development but in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of mothers for whom their infant receiving human milk is important.

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Use of donor human milk in nonhospitalized infants: An infant growth study

Cited by 11 publications

References 45 publications

Review highlights the importance of donor human milk being available for very low birth weight infants

Review highlights the importance of donor human milk being available for very low birth weight infants

Receiving screened donor human milk for their infant supports parental wellbeing: a mixed-methods study

Receiving Screened Donor Human Milk for Their Infant Supports Parental Wellbeing: a Mixed-methods Study

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