Nurs Womens Health
. 2023 Mar 2;S1751-4851(23)00040-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2023.01.008. Online ahead of print. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36871597/
State of the Science on the Benefits of Human Milk for Hospitalized, Vulnerable Neonates
- PMID: 36871597
- DOI: 10.1016/j.nwh.2023.01.008
Abstract
Research on human milk has increased dramatically in recent years. The purpose of this review is to describe the literature on the health benefits of human milk for hospitalized, vulnerable neonates. PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase were searched for research articles reporting the health outcomes of hospitalized neonates who were exposed to human milk. Human milk, particularly a mother’s own milk, has the potential to reduce the risk of death and the risk and severity of necrotizing enterocolitis, infection, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, kidney disease, and liver disease. Dose and timing of human milk is important, with more human milk and earlier introduction having a greater impact on health. When a mother’s own milk is not available, donor human milk provides benefits over infant formula.
Keywords: breastfeeding; congenital diaphragmatic hernia; congenital heart defects; critical illness; digestive system abnormalities; human milk; lactation; milk banks; premature.
Copyright © 2023 AWHONN. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
