Effect of Donor Milk Supplementation on Breastfeeding Outcomes in Term Newborns: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Pasteurized donor human milk (DHM) use for healthy newborns is increasing; however, no studies have explored its effect on breastfeeding outcomes.

Patients and methods: We enrolled 60 healthy, term breastfeeding newborns with ≥4.5% weight loss in the first 36 hours in a randomized controlled trial. Thirty newborns were randomly assigned to early limited-volume DHM supplementation and 30 newborns to exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers were surveyed at 1 week and 1, 2, and 3 months regarding the mode of infant feeding. Comparing infants randomized to DHM supplementation with those exclusively breastfeeding, there was no significant difference in the proportion using formula at 1 week (21% vs 7%, P = .15), nor in the proportion of any breastfeeding (79% vs 90%, P = .30) or breastfeeding without formula at 3 months (62% vs 77%, P = .27). Conclusion For newborns with ≥4.5% weight loss in the first 36 hours, early limited-volume supplementation with DHM is unlikely to have a significant favorable impact on breastfeeding outcomes.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02221167.

Keywords: breast milk; breastfeeding; donor human milk; donor milk; milk banking; neonate.

Figure 1.

Flow diagram for Rx Milk Trial