Application of donor human milk supporting system in assisting breast feeding of infants born to mothers with high-risk pregnancy

Abstract

Objective To assess the effect of the donor human milk (DHM) supporting system in assisting breast feeding practices for mothers with high-risk pregnancy. Methods We retrospectively collected the data from 696 mothers (study group) with high-risk pregnancy utilizing the DHM supporting system following delivery in our hospital in 2018 and also from 691 mothers (control group) with high-risk pregnancy who did not use the supporting system following delivery in 2017. We analyzed the occurrence rates of breast distention at 3 d and delayed lactation at 72 h after delivery, weight loss of the infants, and the rates of exclusive breast feeding within 6 weeks after delivery between the 2 groups. Results Compared with those in the control group, the mothers in the study group showed significantly lower rates of delayed lactation (P < 0.01) and breast distention (13.07% vs 22.87%, P < 0.001) at 3 d after delivery, and had significantly higher rates of exclusive breast feeding at 1 d after the delivery (68.97% vs 61.94%, P=0.007), on the day of discharge (67.96% vs 45.88%, P < 0.001) and at 6 weeks after delivery (57.90% vs 40.96%, P < 0.001). The infants in the study group had significantly lower body weight loss than those in the control group (158.82±72.99 vs 220.88±77.17 g, t=15.385, P < 0.001), and the number of infants with body weight loss was also significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The DHM supporting system can facilitate breast feeding of the infants born to mothers with high-risk pregnancy, and helps to lower the incidences of delayed lactation and breast distension of the mothers and reduce body weight loss of the infants.

Keywords

• donor human milk bank
• pregnant women
• high-risk pregnancy
• breast feeding
• infant newborn