NICU Breast Milk Warming Practices and the Physiological Effects of Breast Milk Feeding Temperatures on Preterm Infants

Abstract

Further research is needed to clearly define the risks and benefits of warming infant feedings.

The Evaluation of Nurses’ Knowledge and Practice about the Temperature of Milk Fed to Infants: A Descriptive Study

“…The studies on the issue show that lack of a standard temperature measurement method might lead various problems especially for preterm infants. (9,12,13,(15)(16)(17) Neonates have less brown fatty tissue and muscle and also they have more skin surface in proportion to body weight. Such factors reduces their adjusting ability of body temperature and increases the tendency to hypothermia.…”

“…However, the optimal temperature of the water is not stated in the literature. (9,10) Formula is on the other hand should be prepared using boiled and cooled water. (11) In addition, the milk given to an infant in appropriate temperature promotes the development of gastrointestinal functions and speeds up growth process so that shortens the duration of hospitalization.…”

“…(15,16) Such studies point out the problems for infants caused by not given the milk in a standardised temperature. (9,12,13,(15)(16)(17) However, there are not any standards found in Turkey as in the literature worldwide about temperature of the milk and the method to measure the temperature. Lawlor-Klean et al (12) study measuring the perception of nurses related with the effect of feeding temperature on infants' general state, it was reported that the milk given in body temperature was appropriate for infants but there was not any standard procedure in the heating of the milk in many of the neonatal intensive care units(NICU).…”

Warming Infant Feeds: What is the Evidence and What are the Questions?

“…Again in 2013, Dumm et al 2 (10), one might postulate that this was related to one or more individual infants who had larger residuals for some other reason unrelated to feeding temperature, particularly since residuals were greatest in the room temperature feeding and not the cold feeding group. In the absence of a large randomized controlled trial, this will continue to be a question.…”

“…In addition, some researchers have described the change in water temperature based on the milk temperature placed in the water bath. 2 Obviously, frozen milk will cool warm water faster than refrigerated milk, resulting in a difference in final temperature of the milk, if left in the warm water bath for the same amount of time.…”