Considering Human Milk Variability in the Nutritional Management of Low-Birth-Weight Infants. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Groh-Wargo, Sharon; Valentic, Jennifer; Khaira, Sharmeel; Super, Dennis M.; Collin, Marc
• Is Part Of: Infant, child & adolescent nutrition. Volume 6:Number 5(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 301
• Page End: 302
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: low birth weight -- human milk -- milk analysis; Children -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; 613.2083
• DOI: 10.1177/1941406414536611
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1941-4064

Abstract

Human milk is the preferred feeding for babies but requires fortification to meet the needs of low-birth-weight infants. Human milk is known to vary with length of gestation and state of lactation. We describe the degree of variability both between mothers and within a mother's own milk supply in the setting of the neonatal intensive care unit. Aliquots from 24-hour supplies of human milk from mothers of infants weighing <2 kg at birth who were between 2 and 6 weeks of life were analyzed for lactose, bioavailable protein, and fat using a mid-infrared milk analyzer. Variability was estimated for each macronutrient by calculating the coefficient of variation (%) and was significantly less within one mother than between mothers ( P < .05). The variability in macronutrient content between mothers supports the use of human milk analysis when establishing a nutritional management plan for low-birth-weight infants. Low variability within a mother's own milk supply suggests that weekly analysis is sufficient to establish an individualized fortification plan.