The impact of a Donor Human Milk Program on the provision of mothers’ own milk at discharge in very low birth weight infants

Objective: Examine the effect of a donor human milk (DHM) program on mothers’ own milk feedings at discharge for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Study design: A single center retrospective analysis of feeding outcomes in preterm infants. Data were assigned as: (1) pre DHM era (2) Bridge DHM era (3) Full DHM era. Each era was divided into infants <1500 g (n = 724) or ≥1500 g (n = 784). Results: Both the percentage of mothers’ own milk feeds and percent of infants exclusively receiving mothers’ own milk at discharge were increased in the <1500 g (p = 0.003, p = 0.002) and the ≥1500 g group (p = 0.007, p = 0.004) respectively, following the introduction of DHM for VLBW infants. Conclusion: Practice changes that accompany a donor milk program likely play a prominent role in the provision of mothers’ own milk and exclusivity of breast milk feedings at discharge for very low birth weight infants.