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  • Title: Breast milk for preterm infants.
    Author: Byrne B, Hull D.
    Journal: Prof Care Mother Child; 1996; 6(2):39, 42-5. PubMed ID: 8704416.
    Abstract:
    The breast-feeding intentions and achievements of mothers of babies born prematurely were investigated in a prospective enquiry, a postal survey and by interview. The prospective inquiry was conducted from April 19 1993 to March 19 1994 on all 686 infants admitted to the two neonatal units in Nottingham. The aim was to see how many infants were offered mother's breast milk by any route. Feeding records were available for 593 infants of whom 64% were offered mother's breast milk. Gestation did not affect the mother's ability to produce milk. Infants of 24-28 weeks' gestation received breast milk for 4 to 5 weeks on average. The postal questionnaire was sent to 114 mothers whose infants were in the units for over seven days between April and October 1994. The aim was to learn how they felt about producing milk and feeding their preterm infant. 64 [59%] responded. 54% of responders and 49% of non-responders had intended to breast feed. Of the responders 65% produced some milk and 46% were home fully breast feeding. The home interviews were conducted 2-6 weeks after discharge with 16 mothers who fulfilled the criteria for the postal enquiry. The aim was to learn from mothers how the service might be improved and what motivated their choice of feeding. They requested clear guidance, agreed by all the professionals involved; a warm, comfortable and private environment; and a ready supply of breast pumps. Their choice of feeding was motivated primarily by previous experience and family pressure, not by advice from health-care professionals. CONCLUSIONS. Many mothers succeed in supplying milk for their preterm infants and many more might do so if the benefits of human milk to preterm infants were more actively advocated and the support service in the neonatal units developed.
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