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Improved outcomes of feeding low birth weight infants with predominantly raw human milk versus donor banked milk and formula |
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| Authors: | Kalliopi Dritsakou Georgios Liosis Georgia Valsami Evangelos Polychronopoulos Maria Skouroliakou |
| Affiliation: | 1. Departments of Quality Control, Research and Continuing Education, Elena Venizelou Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece, kdritsak@hua.gr p.drits@yahoo.gr;3. Elena Venizelou Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece,;4. School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece,;5. Department of Science of Dietetics – Nutrition, Harokopeion University of Athens, Athens, Greece, and;6. Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition, Department of Science of Dietetics – Nutrition, Harokopeion University of Athens, Athens, Greece |
| Abstract: | Objectives: To investigate the benefits of treating low birth weight infants predominantly with mother’s own raw milk and early initiation of breastfeeding (raw human milk/breast-fed infants), in comparison to feeding only with donor banked milk (until the third week of life) and afterwards a preterm formula until hospital discharge (donor banked/formula-fed infants).Methods: One hundred and ninety-two predominantly raw human milk-fed infants (70% of raw and 30% of donor milk) were matched to 192 donor/formula-fed ones (on 1:1 ratio). Aggressive nutrition policy and targeted fortification of human milk were implemented in both groups.Results: The two groups show similar demographic and perinatal characteristics. Predominantly raw milk-fed infants regained earlier their birth weight, suffered less episodes of feeding intolerance and presented a higher body length and head circumference at discharge (p?p?p?Conclusions: Feeding predominantly with mother’s raw milk seems to result in optimal neonatal outcomes. |
| Keywords: | Breastfeeding breast milk donor banked formula raw milk |