Human Milk and Breastfeeding in Surgical Infants

Abstract

Human milk and breastfeeding represent the nutritional normative standards for term and preterm newborns. With the term "surgical infants" we refer to all newborns who undergo surgery during the first days of life and who are assisted in the neonatal intensive care unit during the postoperative period and then in the neonatal surgery unit. There are many obstacles to breastfeeding these newborns. The "barriers" include the unstable clinical conditions before and after surgery, the period of separation between the mother and child, and often the lack of attention to breastfeeding. Few studies have assessed if newborns with surgical diseases are breastfeed and if human milk is beneficial for their outcome. We believe that the best option is to offer them their own mother's milk through the promotion and support of breastfeeding. A specific program focused on the needs of these vulnerable children should be created. Furthermore the surgical and pediatric staff of the neonatal surgery unit should be informed and trained to increase such a program's feasibility.

Pressure ulcers’ incidence, preventive measures, and risk factors in neonatal intensive care and intermediate care units

“…Most importantly, some authors had already theorised about the topic, but this is the first research considering kangaroo care a preventive measure. The results suggested the feasibility of the proposal, in addition to the numerous benefits already reported in hospitalised infants and in different terms …”

“…The results suggested the feasibility of the proposal, in addition to the numerous benefits already reported in hospitalised infants and in different terms. 42,43…”

Supplementation of Mother’s Own Milk with Donor Milk in Infants with Gastroschisis or Intestinal Atresia: A Retrospective Study

“…HM also reduces PN time and PN-associated liver disease in infants with short bowel syndrome [9,10] or intestinal failure, which may be a consequence of congenital GI malformations. Infants with congenital GI malformations are nothing by mouth (NPO, nil per os), are separated from their mothers after birth, and are often late preterm, requiring their mothers to initiate lactation exclusively with a breast pump, resulting in lactation challenges, risks of poor MOM supply [11][12][13][14][15] and lower rates of breastfeeding. If a supplement to MOM is required, the current standard of care in the term/late preterm population is the use of formula.…”

“…Since DM is an expensive and limited resource, most Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) limit DM provision to very preterm infants, excluding most infants with congenital GI malformations. There are no trials of its efficacy in infants with congenital GI malformations, although it has been suggested that DM could have benefit in this population based on extrapolation from the preterm infant literature [12].…”

A Case Report of the Impact of Maternal Decision to Breastfeed Her Premature Surgical Infant

“…Literature suggests the maternal decision to breastfeed is key in the initiation and duration of a mother's milk supply. 7 Early access to pumping, 11 professional lactation support from the lactation consultant/health care team, 7 and transitioning to latching at the breast prior to discharge from the NICU 12 have also been cited as crucial factors to achieving lactation success. The following case report will review the outcome of maternal decision and lactation support provided to a mother of a premature infant requiring surgical intervention for EA with TEF within the first few days of life.…”