The impact on the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months of life of introducing supplementary donor milk into the level 1 newborn nursery

Objectives This study explored whether donor-milk supplementation increases breastfeeding exclusivity at 6 months of life. In 10/2015, we implemented donor milk for breastfed newborns who needed nutritional supplements for hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and >8% weight loss at 40 h of life. Study design We conducted a retrospective chart review on 122 qualified neonates admitted to newborn nursery at University of Florida Jacksonville 4 months before donor-milk implementation and 6 months after. Results 73 (60%) of the neonates received formula and 49 (40%) received donor milk. 39 (54%) in the formula group and 33 (46%) in the donor-milk group were surveyed after 6 months of life. Multivariate logistic regression showed that newborns who received donor milk had five times greater odds of being exclusively breastfed at 6 months of life. Conclusions Donor milk as feeding supplementation for newborns is associated with increased exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months of life.