Review highlights the importance of donor human milk being available for very low birth weight infants.

AIM

The aim of this paper was to review the role that donor human milk plays in caring for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

METHODS

This review focussed on academic papers and background information published in English and French up to 8 August 2021.

RESULTS

Donor human milk provides a useful bridge to successful breastfeeding in hospitalised neonates and does not have a negative impact on the use of mother's own milk and breastfeeding rates at discharge. It helps to prevent key complications of prematurity, particularly necrotising enterocolitis up to 36 weeks of postmenstrual age, which is more common in infants fed formulas based on cows' milk. When it is carefully fortified, it supports the postnatal growth of the majority of very preterm infants. Well-organised, accessible human milk banks are required to cover the needs of hospitalised infants, and donor human milk must be prioritised for patients who derive the greatest health benefit from it. These include very preterm infants and those born at term, or near term, with surgical digestive malformations or congenital heart disease.

CONCLUSION

Safe, high-quality donor human milk, which is distributed by well-organised human milk banks, is essential for the most vulnerable hospitalised neonates.