Growth in VLBW infants fed predominantly fortified maternal and donor human milk diets: a retrospective cohort study

• Published in: BMC pediatrics 2012-08, Vol.12 (1), p.124-124, Article 124
• Main Authors: Colaizy, Tarah T, Carlson, Susan, Saftlas, Audrey F, Morriss, Jr, Frank H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Babies; Birth weight; Breast milk; Breastfeeding & lactation; Child development; Cohort Studies; Diet; Dietary Proteins; Enteral Nutrition - methods; Female; Food and nutrition; Food, Fortified; Growth; Health aspects; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant Formula; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature - growth & development; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - growth & development; Infants; Infants (Newborn); Male; Milk; Milk, Human; Retrospective Studies; Weight Gain
• ISSN: 1471-2431; 1471-2431
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-12-124

To determine the effect of human milk, maternal and donor, on in-hospital growth of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. We performed a retrospective cohort study comparing in-hospital growth in VLBW infants by proportion of human milk diet, including subgroup analysis by maternal or donor milk type. Primary outcome was change in weight z-score from birth to hospital discharge. Retrospective cohort study. 171 infants with median gestational age 27 weeks (IQR 25.4, 28.9) and median birthweight 899 g (IQR 724, 1064) were included. 97% of infants received human milk, 51% received > 75% of all enteral intake as human milk. 16% of infants were small-for-gestational age (SGA, < 10th percentile) at birth, and 34% of infants were SGA at discharge. Infants fed >75% human milk had a greater negative change in weight z-score from birth to discharge compared to infants receiving < 75% (-0.6 vs, -0.4, p = 0.03). Protein and caloric supplementation beyond standard human milk fortifier was related to human milk intake (p = 0.04). Among infants receiving > 75% human milk, there was no significant difference in change in weight z-score by milk type (donor -0.84, maternal -0.56, mixed -0.45, p = 0.54). Infants receiving >75% donor milk had higher rates of SGA status at discharge than those fed maternal or mixed milk (56% vs. 35% (maternal), 21% (mixed), p = 0.08). VLBW infants can grow appropriately when fed predominantly fortified human milk. However, VLBW infants fed >75% human milk are at greater risk of poor growth than those fed less human milk. This risk may be highest in those fed predominantly donor human milk.