Early feeding factors associated with exclusive versus partial human milk feeding in neonates receiving intensive care.

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate early feeding factors associated with exclusive human milk (EHM) feeding at discharge in a cohort of human milk fed infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Study DesignRetrospective cohort of consecutively discharged infants from two NICUs over a 12 month period who received any human milk during the 24 hours prior to hospital discharge. We used logistic regression to evaluate early feeding factors associated with EHM feeding at discharge.ResultsWe evaluated a total of 264 infants. EHM-fed infants were twice as likely to receive human milk at the first feeding compared to partial human milk fed infants (65% vs. 32%; P<0.01). In multivariable analysis, including adjustment for race and type of maternal insurance, infants receiving human milk as the initial feeding, compared to formula, had a greater odds of EHM feeding at hospital discharge (adjusted OR 3.41; 95% CI 1.82–6.39; P<0.001).ConclusionAmong infants admitted to the NICU whose mothers provide human milk, those receiving human milk as the first feeding were more likely to receive EHM feeding at discharge.