Using donor human milk to feed vulnerable term infants: a case series in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Abstract

BackgroundDonor human milk is the World Health Organization’s recommendation for infant feeding when the mother’s own breast milk is unavailable. Breast milk has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality and in low birthweight infants, donor milk reduces the incidence of necrotising enterocolitis, late onset sepsis and improves outcomes. There is a paucity of literature documenting outcomes of using donor human milk in older children who need additional support for a variety of health issues.Case presentationA series of seven case studies is presented of orphaned and abandoned children, many of whom were either HIV exposed or positive. All children were fed with pasteurised donor human milk at a transition home and their progress reported.ConclusionsAlthough detailed medical records were not always available, the case studies provide anecdotal evidence of the protective effects of donor human milk against failure to thrive, diarrhoea, atopic dermatitis, and opportunistic infections.

Use of donor human milk in nonhospitalized infants: An infant growth study

“…However, there remains a paucity of literature regarding the use and growth outcomes of DHM in nonhospitalized infants, particularly term infants. Limited studies exist regarding DHM use in term infants (Belfort et al, 2018; Ferrarello, Schumacher, & Anca, 2019; Kair, Colaizy, Hubbard, & Flaherman, 2014; Kair & Flaherman, 2017; Kair, Flaherman, & Colaizy, 2019; Sen et al, 2018) in addition to limited numbers of case series (Reimers, Shenker, Weaver, & Coutsoudis, 2018; Tully, Lockhart‐Borman, & Updegrove, 2004), but contrary to the present study, all these infants were hospitalized or ill, and none listed growth as a primary outcome.…”

Donor Human Milk Banking—Time to Redirect the Focus?

“…Community DHMBs also provide a valuable service, feeding vulnerable infants. The first community-based bank was established in South Africa 20 years ago, and has witnessed substantial improvements in the condition of HIV-infected orphans fed with donor human milk (Reimers et al, 2018). The Hearts Milk Bank in the United Kingdom, in addition to providing donor milk to hospitals, also supports mothers in the community who are temporarily unable to breastfeed their infants.…”

“Go With the Flow:” A Qualitative Description of Infant Feeding Experiences Among Women With HIV in the United States

“…Formula feeding is recommended as a safe alternative infant feeding method (Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Treatment of HIV during Pregnancy and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission, 2021) for infants born to WWH and was the method of choice for all participants. Other alternatives, such as donor human milk, are not commonly discussed despite having shown to be beneficial in infants who are exposed to HIV (Jeppesen et al, 2013; Reimers et al, 2018), and research assessing acceptability of donor human milk in this population is lacking.…”