Health, nutrition, and cost outcomes of human milk feedings for very low birthweight infants

Abstract

This symposium examined the impact of human milk (HM) from the infant's own mother on health, nutrition, and cost outcomes in very low birthweight (VLBW; <1500 g birthweight) infants. The 4 symposium speakers presented original research and summarized existing evidence about these primary outcomes. The conclusions from the symposium suggest that: 1) HM feedings for VLBW infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) reduce the risks and the associated costs of late onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC); 2) the gut microbiota of the VLBW infant is influenced by multiple factors, some of which are modifiable, and that the milk microbiota affects the developing gut microbiota in a positive manner; 3) the clinical realties of feeding HM in the NICU that compromise safety and efficacy of HM can be addressed with evidence-based clinical practices; and 4) piglets can serve as a model for the premature infant to assess the impact of HM and formula additives on intestinal development.