Background:

An exclusive human milk diet (EHM) including fortification with a human milk-based fortifier has been shown to decrease the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) but growth velocity may be less for infants receiving EHM compared to a bovine diet.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine if growth is improved by earlier fortification of breast milk for preterm infants supported with a human milk based fortifier.

Study design:

A multi-center retrospective cohort study of the outcomes of infants of 500– 1250 g birth weight whose breast milk feedings were fortified at >60 mL/kg/day (late) versus <60 mL/kg/day (early) of enteral feeding volume.

Results:

Median±IQR range for gestational age (27.6±3.4 vs 27.0±2.9 weeks, p = 0.03) and chronic lung disease (CLD: 42.6 vs 27.6%, p = 0.008) were higher, and weight gain (12.9±2.6 vs 13.3±2.6 g/kg/day, p = 0.03) was lower in the late (N = 102) vs the early (N = 292) group. Adjusted multiple linear regression analysis found that early fortification was associated with improved growth velocity for weight (p = 0.007) and head circumference (HC) (p = 0.021) and less negative changes in z-scores for weight (p = 0.022) and HC (p = 0.046) from birth to discharge. Adjusted multiple logistic regression found that early fortification was associated with decreased occurrence of CLD (p = 0.004). No other outcomes, including NEC, were associated with early versus late fortification.

Conclusion:

The study results suggested that early HM fortification appears to positively affect growth for infants whose human milk feedings are fortified with a human milk based fortifier without adverse effects. The incidence of CLD was also reduced in the early fortification group.

Background: Long-term outcomes of preterm infants fed an exclusive human milk-based (EHM) diet using a donor human milk-based fortifier are not well defined.

Materials and Methods: Infants ≤1,250 g birth weight (BW) were studied prospectively at two outpatient visits: 12–15 and 18–22 months corrected age (CA). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (BSID-III) were performed at 18–22 months CA.

Results: In this pilot study, 51 preterm infants (gestational age 27.8 ± 2.6 weeks and BW 893 ± 204 g) were evaluated. While anthropometric z-scores were significantly lower at discharge compared with birth, z-scores returned to birth levels by 12–15 months CA (length and head circumference [HC]) and 18–22 months CA (weight). Body composition at 2 years of age was similar to term-matched controls. Inpatient growth was significantly correlated with bone density, lean mass (LM), and fat-free mass at 18–22 months CA. Increased mother's own milk (MOM) was significantly correlated with decreased fat mass indices. BSID-III showed that 0% of cognitive composite scores were <70.

Conclusions: In addition to returning to BW, length, and HC z-scores by 2 years of age, body composition analysis revealed that increase in body size was appropriate as reflected by LM and bone density similar to matched term controls without an increase in fat mass. No child had severe cognitive developmental delay using a cutoff score of 70. Inpatient growth and increased receipt of MOM correlated with favorable growth and body composition outcomes. Positive outcomes as shown in this study to confirm postdischarge safety of an EHM diet during hospitalization.

For preterm and very low birthweight infants, the mother’s own milk is the best nutrition. Based on the latest information for mothers who give birth to preterm and very low birthweight infants, medical staff should encourage and assist mothers to pump or express and provide their own milk whenever possible.

(2) If the supply of maternal milk is insufficient even though they receive adequate support, or the mother’s own milk cannot be given to her infant for any reason, donor human milk should be used.

(3) Donors who donate their breast milk need to meet the Guideline of the Japan Human Milk Bank Association.

(4) Donor human milk should be provided according to the medical needs of preterm and very low birthweight infants, regardless of their family’s financial status.

(5) In the future, it will be necessary to create a system to supply an exclusive human milk‐based diet (EHMD), consisting of human milk with the addition of a human milk‐derived human milk fortifier, to preterm and very low birthweight infants.

Background:

Very low birthweight (VLBW) preterm infants fed mothers own milk (MOM) need nutritional supplementation, tra-ditionally achieved with cow's milk (CM) derived fortifier CMDF) and preterm formula (PTF) if MOM is insufficient. CM products have been associated with diverse major morbidities. The current recommendation is to preferentially replace PTF with donor milk (DM) to produce a 100% human milk (HM) base diet, usually forti-fied with CMDF.

Objective:

To identify whether CMDF, even when fed with a 100% HM base diet, is related to an increased risk of major morbidities.

Methods:

We identified a randomized trial with an all-HM base diet, comparing CMDF with a fortifier derived from human milk (HMDF), and two additional studies of this design were generated from raw data as subgroup analyses of a randomized con-trolled trial and a quasi-experimental study. Using these studies, we calculated the impact of CMDF on major morbidities of death, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Results:

Each study individually provided support for an increase in major morbidities with CMDF. Meta-analyses of pooled data showed that compared to HMDF, the CMDF group had large in-creases in NEC (RR=3.3; P=0.001), ROP (RR=2.2; P=0.007), PDA (RR=1.6; P=0.009), interruption of feeding (RR=3.4; P=0.001) and a positive mortality/morbidity index based on one or more of death, NEC, sepsis, ROP and BPD (RR=1.4; P=0.006).

Conclusions:

Despite the increased use of HM in modern neonatal care as a base diet, we found a greater risk of critical morbidities with CMDF compared with HMDF. This burden of morbidity provides evidence that the benefits of an HM base diet, might be, in part, counteracted by multiple adverse outcomes relating to the use of CMDF.

Background:

An exclusive human milk diet (EHM) including fortification with a human milk-based fortifier has been shown to decrease the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) but growth velocity may be less for infants receiving EHM compared to a bovine diet.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine if growth is improved by earlier fortification of breast milk for preterm infants supported with a human milk based fortifier.

Study design:

A multi-center retrospective cohort study of the outcomes of infants of 500– 1250 g birth weight whose breast milk feedings were fortified at >60 mL/kg/day (late) versus <60 mL/kg/day (early) of enteral feeding volume.

Results:

Median±IQR range for gestational age (27.6±3.4 vs 27.0±2.9 weeks, p = 0.03) and chronic lung disease (CLD: 42.6 vs 27.6%, p = 0.008) were higher, and weight gain (12.9±2.6 vs 13.3±2.6 g/kg/day, p = 0.03) was lower in the late (N = 102) vs the early (N = 292) group. Adjusted multiple linear regression analysis found that early fortification was associated with improved growth velocity for weight (p = 0.007) and head circumference (HC) (p = 0.021) and less negative changes in z-scores for weight (p = 0.022) and HC (p = 0.046) from birth to discharge. Adjusted multiple logistic regression found that early fortification was associated with decreased occurrence of CLD (p = 0.004). No other outcomes, including NEC, were associated with early versus late fortification.

Conclusion:

The study results suggested that early HM fortification appears to positively affect growth for infants whose human milk feedings are fortified with a human milk based fortifier without adverse effects. The incidence of CLD was also reduced in the early fortification group.

Human milk from the preterm's own mother is the enteral feeding of choice.

Background: An exclusive human milk (EHM) diet in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (birth weight ≤1,000 g) is linked to an increased likelihood of extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR, weight <10% at discharge). Past studies associated EUGR with worse neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes; however, its impact when an EHM diet is used is unknown.

Objective: Determine whether EUGR adversely affects 2-year ND outcomes of ELBW infants fed an EHM diet. Secondary aims were to compare short-term morbidities and growth through 2 years corrected age (CA).

Materials and Methods: Prospective cohort study of ELBW infants fed an EHM diet until 34 weeks corrected gestational age and assessed at 2 years CA. ND outcomes between EUGR and non-EUGR infants were compared using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development 3rd Ed (BSID-III).

Results: Eighty-one ELBW infants survived, 44 were seen for follow-up, and 16 (36%) were EUGR. Baseline characteristics and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) morbidities were similar. There were no statistically significant differences (median [25–75%]) between EUGR and non-EUGR groups in cognition, (90 [80–99] versus 95 [90–104]), language (84 [68–105] versus 89 [75–100]), or motor composite scores (87 [74–96] versus 91 [88–96]). Weight z-scores during NICU stay dropped in both groups, more pronounced for the EUGR infants. There was no difference in linear or head growth.

Conclusion: In our institution, ND outcomes at 2 years CA for ELBW infants fed an EHM diet were similar regardless of EUGR status. This suggests a neuroprotective effect of EHM diet in the ELBW population, despite weight gain velocity during NICU stay.

In this month's issue of Breastfeeding Medicine Katwyk and colleagues present a detailed economic analysis of the cost-effectiveness of providing an exclusive human milk diet to infants in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit of a single Canadian hospital. Exclusive meant feeding solely human milk and supplementing as needed with a human milk-derived fortifier (HMDF).

Background: There is increasing evidence that premature newborns and infants with low birth weight can benefit substantially from an exclusive human milk-based diet (EHMD), consisting of human milk supplemented with a pasteurized donor human milk-derived fortifier. However, compared with the standard infant diet, EHMD also represents a significant added cost to the hospital and/or health system, thereby raising important questions about the economic feasibility of incorporating EHMD into newborn care.

Design: We conducted a cost analysis and estimated the potential cost savings to a Canadian tertiary hospital based on the attributable complications averted from EHMD among low-weight neonates. A meta-analysis was performed to derive input parameters. A probabilistic analysis was conducted to determine the probability that EHMD is cost saving and 95% confidence interval (CI) around our estimates.

Results: Our findings show that providing EHMD to preterm infants under 750 g at birth and at the highest risk of developing major complications is likely to be cost saving in the amount of $107,567 (95% CI: −145,229 to 360,362) per year. Extending EHMD to higher weight classes may be economically feasible depending on the pricing of the human milk-derived fortifier and the baseline risk of complications in the hospital setting.

Conclusions: This comprehensive study provides critical insight for hospital-based decision makers to evaluate the potential gains and uncertainties associated with improved nutritional care for neonatal patients.

Background: Long-term outcomes of preterm infants fed an exclusive human milk-based (EHM) diet using a donor human milk-based fortifier are not well defined.

Materials and Methods: Infants ≤1,250 g birth weight (BW) were studied prospectively at two outpatient visits: 12–15 and 18–22 months corrected age (CA). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (BSID-III) were performed at 18–22 months CA.

Results: In this pilot study, 51 preterm infants (gestational age 27.8 ± 2.6 weeks and BW 893 ± 204 g) were evaluated. While anthropometric z-scores were significantly lower at discharge compared with birth, z-scores returned to birth levels by 12–15 months CA (length and head circumference [HC]) and 18–22 months CA (weight). Body composition at 2 years of age was similar to term-matched controls. Inpatient growth was significantly correlated with bone density, lean mass (LM), and fat-free mass at 18–22 months CA. Increased mother's own milk (MOM) was significantly correlated with decreased fat mass indices. BSID-III showed that 0% of cognitive composite scores were <70.

Conclusions: In addition to returning to BW, length, and HC z-scores by 2 years of age, body composition analysis revealed that increase in body size was appropriate as reflected by LM and bone density similar to matched term controls without an increase in fat mass. No child had severe cognitive developmental delay using a cutoff score of 70. Inpatient growth and increased receipt of MOM correlated with favorable growth and body composition outcomes. Positive outcomes as shown in this study to confirm postdischarge safety of an EHM diet during hospitalization.

Objective: An increasingly common practice is to feed preterm infants a base diet comprising only human milk (HM), usually fortified with a cow's milk (CM)-derived fortifier (CMDF). We evaluated the safety of CMDF in a diet of 100% mother's own milk (MOM) against a HM-derived fortifier (HMDF). To date, this has received little research attention.

Study Design: We reanalyzed a 12-center randomized trial, originally comparing exclusive HM feeding, including MOM, donor milk (DM), and HMDF, versus a CM exposed group fed MOM, preterm formula (PTF), and CMDF1. However, for the current study, we performed a subgroup analysis (n = 114) selecting only infants receiving 100% MOM base diet plus fortification, and fed no DM or PTF. This allowed for an isolated comparison of fortifier type: CMDF versus HMDF to evaluate the primary outcomes: necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and a severe morbidity index of NEC surgery or death; and several secondary outcomes.

Results: CMDF and HMDF groups had similar baseline characteristics. CMDF was associated with higher risk of NEC; relative risk (RR) 4.2 (p = 0.038), NEC surgery or death (RR 5.1, p = 0.014); and reduced head circumference gain (p = 0.04).

Conclusions: In neonates fed, as currently recommended with a MOM-based diet, the safety of CMDF when compared to HMDF has been little researched. We conclude that available evidence points to an increase in adverse outcomes with CMDF, including NEC and severe morbidity comprising NEC surgery or death.

Background

Postnatal growth failure (PGF) in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants is a result of factors such as prematurity, acute illness and suboptimal nutritional support. Before this project began, 84% of appropriately grown VLBW infants in our neonatal intensive care unit experienced PGF. The aims of this quality improvement project were to reduce the percentage of infants discharged with PGF to less than 50% within 2 years and to maintain a rate of PGF under 50%.

Methods

All inborn VLBW infants were eligible for this study. Infants with congenital anomalies were excluded. We determined key drivers for optimal nutrition and identified potentially better practices (process measures) based on a review of the literature, which included more rapid initiation of starter total parenteral nutrition (TPN), aggressive use and advancement of regular TPN, and fortification of human milk when the volume of intake reached 80 mL/kg/day. Three Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were tested.

Results

Time to initiation of starter TPN was significantly reduced from 5.5 hours to under 3 hours. Regular TPN provided the goals for amino acids and lipids at increased frequency after the first two PDSA cycles. The proportion of infants whose milk was fortified at 80 mL/kg/day increased after the third PDSA cycle.

Conclusions

We found a sustained decrease in the percentage of infants discharged with PGF from 84% at baseline to fewer than 50% beginning in 2010–2011 through 2016, with 23.1% of infants experiencing PGF in 2016. We have achieved improved nutritional support for VLBW infants using the model for improvement.

For preterm and very low birthweight infants, the mother’s own milk is the best nutrition. Based on the latest information for mothers who give birth to preterm and very low birthweight infants, medical staff should encourage and assist mothers to pump or express and provide their own milk whenever possible.

(2) If the supply of maternal milk is insufficient even though they receive adequate support, or the mother’s own milk cannot be given to her infant for any reason, donor human milk should be used.

(3) Donors who donate their breast milk need to meet the Guideline of the Japan Human Milk Bank Association.

(4) Donor human milk should be provided according to the medical needs of preterm and very low birthweight infants, regardless of their family’s financial status.

(5) In the future, it will be necessary to create a system to supply an exclusive human milk‐based diet (EHMD), consisting of human milk with the addition of a human milk‐derived human milk fortifier, to preterm and very low birthweight infants.