Commentary

Donor Human Milk for Preterm Infants

Lactation Services, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women, San Diego, CA

Correspondence to: Nancy E. Wight, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, Lactation Services, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women, 3003 Health Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92123

Abstract

As survival rates for preterm infants improve, more attention is being focused on improving the quality of survival through optimal nutritional management. The benefits of human milk for term infants are well recognized, with current research suggesting that human milk may especially benefit the preterm infant. Some mothers are unable or unwilling to provide breastmilk for their infants. Although not as well studied as mother's own milk, pasteurized donor human milk can provide many of the components and benefits of human milk while eliminating the risk of transmission of infectious agents. Pasteurization does affect some of the nutritional and immunologic components of human milk, but many immunoglobulins, enzymes, hormones, and growth factors are unchanged or minimally decreased. In California donor human milk costs approximately $3.00 per ounce to purchase. A reduction in length of stay, necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis may result in a relative saving of approximately $11 to the NICU or healthcare plan for each $1 spent for pasteurized donor milk.

Journal of Perinatology (2001) 21, 249-254

Received 8 May 2000; accepted 30 November 2000

June 2001, Volume 21, Number 4, Pages 249-254

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