Short-term effects of fresh mother's own milk in very preterm infants

The association of different types of human milk with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants

Objective

To evaluate the association between different types of human milk feeds and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants.

Methods

Data on dispensed mother's own milk (MOM) and donor human milk (DHM) from Leipzig Milk Bank for hospitalized infants with a gestational age (GA) ≤32 weeks observed from birth to 36 weeks' postmenstrual age or prior discharge were used. BPD was assessed based on documented International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) diagnosis and on electronic hospital records (EHR) of data on ventilation and oxygen supplementation. Associations of dispensed milk feed variations with BPD were investigated using logistic regressions in crude and adjusted models.

Results

866 infants were included with a BPD prevalence of 15.4% (EHR) and 23.2% (ICD). The mean GA was 29.1 weeks. The majority (84.4%, n = 746) of infants were nurtured with a mix of MOM, DHM supplemented by formula or parenteral (other) nutrition during hospitalization. For which, MOM comprised the highest median [Q1-Q3] percentage proportion (53[31-81] %) of this mix. Exclusive fresh milk and exclusive MOM feeds were dispensed on a mean of 40 and 34% patient-days, respectively. Statistically significant associations with lower BPD incidence were only observed for 70-80% MOM vs. DHM, and 60% fresh vs. frozen milk, in crude and adjusted models.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a protective association of MOM and fresh milk with lower odds of BPD, which may be dependent on the proportion of MOM or fresh milk administered. These results highlight the importance of MOM as an ideal source of nutrition during early infancy.

Point-of-care human milk concentration by passive osmosis: comprehensive analysis of fresh human milk samples

OBJECTIVE

Preterm infants need enrichment of human milk (HM) for optimal growth. This study evaluated a novel, point-of-care human milk concentration (HMC) process for water removal from fresh HM samples by passive osmotic concentration.

STUDY DESIGN

Nineteen fresh HM samples were concentrated by incubation with the HMC devices for 3 h at 4 °C. Pre- and post-concentration HM samples were compared by HM properties for: pH, osmolality, macronutrients, enzyme activity, bioactive, and total cell viability.

RESULTS

Passive osmotic concentration reduced HM volume by an average of 16.3% ± 3.8% without a significant effect on pH or cell viability. Ten of the 41 HM components did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between pre- and post-concentration samples. Twenty-three increased within the expected range by volume reduction. Six increased more than expected, two less than expected, and none decreased significantly.

CONCLUSION

Passive osmotic concentration of fresh HM can concentrate HM components by selective removal of water. HM osmolality and pH remained within neonatal feeding parameters.

A Systemic Review of the Difference Between Diets for Preterm Infants Containing Raw Mother's Own Milk and Frozen or Pasteurized Mother's Own Milk

BACKGROUND

Raw, never stored or pasteurized mother's own milk (MOM) is not always available to feed preterm infants; however, storage and pasteurization of MOM diminishes some bioactive components. It can be difficult to feed raw MOM to preterm infants due to transportation and storage of small volumes that might be pumped away from the infant, and a concern that they might harbor bacteria. However, the higher availability of bioactive components in raw MOM may provide benefits to preterm infants compared to frozen or pasteurized MOM.

RESEARCH AIM

To systematically review and summarize the results of studies on feeding raw MOM versus frozen or pasteurized MOM to preterm infants born at less than 37 weeks of gestation.

METHODS

Four databases were searched (Cochrane, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science) for this systematic review. Of 542 studies identified, nine met inclusion criteria and were critically evaluated using the quality assessment tool for quantitative studies by the Effective Public Health Practice Project. Studies were organized using the Breastfeeding Challenges Facing Preterm Mother-Infant Dyads theoretical framework.

RESULTS

Included studies evaluated the outcomes of preterm infants fed raw versus pasteurized MOM (n = 7, 77.8%) or raw versus frozen MOM (n = 2, 22.2%). Researchers found that raw MOM did not increase infant infections and may have improved health and growth outcomes for study participants.

CONCLUSION

There is laboratory evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of the use of raw MOM for preterm infants. A raw MOM diet is recommended for preterm infants by professional organizations. Despite this, it may not be universally prioritized and could require purposeful implementation by each institution. Further research is needed to pursue the potential benefits of a raw MOM diet for preterm infants.

Breast-feeding as protective factor against bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants

Breast-feeding is associated with fewer comorbidities in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) of VLBW infants is a multifactorial pathology in which nutritional aspects may be of special importance. The aim of this study is to determine, in a cohort of VLBW infants, whether breast milk nutrition is associated with a reduced prevalence and severity of BPD. A retrospective study was conducted to record the intake of mother's own milk (MOM), pasteurised donor human milk or preterm formula milk in the first 2 weeks of postnatal life of 566 VLBW newborns at our hospital during the period January 2008-December 2021. After applying the relevant exclusion criteria, data for 489 VLBW infants were analysed; 195 developed some degree of BPD. Moderate or severe BPD is associated with less weight gain. Moreover, the preferential ingestion of breast milk in the first and second postnatal weeks had effects associated with lower OR for BPD, which were statistically demonstrable for mild (OR 0·16; 95 % CI 0·03, 0·71) and severe (OR 0·08; 95 % CI 0·009, 0·91) BPD. Breast-feeding during the first weeks of postnatal life is associated with a reduced prevalence of BPD, which is frequently associated with less weight gain as a result of greater respiratory effort with greater energy expenditure.

Fresh Parent's Own Milk for Preterm Infants: Barriers and Future Opportunities

While direct at-the-breast feeding is biologically optimal, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission due to infant immaturity or illness often necessitates the expression and storage of parent's milk. The provision of freshly expressed (never stored) parent's own milk to preterm infants is not widely prioritized, and this article provides an exploration of NICU practices and their implications for feeding premature or ill infants with parent's own milk. In this article, we discuss the potential biological benefits of fresh parent's own milk, highlighting its dynamic components and the changes incurred during storage. Research suggests that fresh milk may offer health advantages over stored milk. The authors advocate for further research, emphasizing the need for standardized definitions. Research is needed on the biological impact of fresh milk, both short- and long-term, as well as defining and understanding healthcare economics when using fresh milk.

Nutritional Needs of the Infant with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Growth failure is a common problem in infants with established bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Suboptimal growth for infants with BPD is associated with unfavorable respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes; however, high-quality evidence to support best nutritional practices are limited for this vulnerable patient population. Consequently, there exists a wide variation in the provision of nutritional care and monitoring of growth for infants with BPD. Other neonatal populations at risk for growth failure, such as infants with congenital heart disease, have demonstrated improved growth outcomes with the creation and compliance of clinical protocols to guide nutritional management. Developing clinical protocols to guide nutritional management for infants with BPD may similarly improve long-term outcomes. Given the absence of high-quality trials to guide nutritional practice in infants with BPD, the best available evidence of systematic reviews and clinical recommendations can be applied to optimize growth and decrease variation in the care of these infants.

Human Milk Feeding Is Associated with Decreased Incidence of Moderate-Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Extremely Preterm Infants

BACKGROUND

An increased rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is reported in extremely preterm infants. A potential role of human milk feeding in protecting against this condition has been suggested.

METHODS

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted based on data about morbidity in the population of infants born between 22+0 and 26+6 weeks of gestation, included in the Spanish network SEN1500 during the period 2004-2019 and discharged alive. The primary outcome was moderate-severe BPD. Associated conditions were studied, including human milk feeding at discharge. The temporal trends of BPD and human milk feeding rates at discharge were also studied.

RESULTS

In the study population of 4341 infants, the rate of moderate-severe BPD was 43.7% and it increased to >50% in the last three years. The factors significantly associated with a higher risk of moderate-severe BPD were birth weight, male sex, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide, patent ductus arteriosus, and late-onset sepsis. Exclusive human milk feeding and any amount of human milk at discharge were associated with a lower incidence of moderate-severe BPD (OR 0.752, 95% CI 0.629-0.901 and OR 0.714, 95% CI 0.602-0.847, respectively). During the study period, the proportion of infants with moderate-severe BPD fed any amount of human milk at discharge increased more than twofold. And the proportion of infants with moderate-severe BPD who were exclusively fed human milk at discharge increased at the same rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work shows an inverse relationship between human milk feeding at discharge from the neonatal unit and the occurrence of BPD.