Donor Breast Milk for the Preterm Infant: Your Questions Answered

• Published in: Neonatal network Vol. 38; no. 1; p. 7
• Main Authors: Merlino-Barr, Stephanie, Groh-Wargo, Sharon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Female; Humans; Infant Formula - analysis; Infant Formula - chemistry; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature - growth & development; Infant, Premature - physiology; Infant, Premature, Diseases - prevention & control; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - growth & development; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - physiology; Milk Banks - organization & administration; Milk Banks - standards; Milk, Human - chemistry; Milk, Human - physiology; Patient Care Management - methods; human milk composition; expressed breast milk; donor breast milk; preterm infants
• ISSN: 1539-2880
• DOI: 10.1891/0730-0832.38.1.7

Expressed breast milk (EBM) is the gold standard of infant nutrition, but is not always available for use for preterm infants in the NICU setting. Donor breast milk (DBM) is often a preferred alternative for preterm and very low birth weight (VLBW) infants when maternal milk is not available. This article discusses the composition of DBM, reviews its advantages compared to formula, discusses challenges related to its long-term use, and identifies strategies to utilize DBM in the context of total nutritional management of preterm and VLBW infants. We will use a framework of WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and WHY to answer the questions: who gets DBM, why use DBM, where does DBM come from, what is in DBM, and when may DBM use be challenged.