State of the science of the benefits of human milk for hospitalized, vulnerable neonates

In this state of the science paper, I review the currently-available literature on the benefits of human milk for hospitalized, vulnerable neonates. Human milk has the potential to reduce the risk and severity of many of the morbidities associated with premature birth, including necrotizing enterocolitis, infection, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and intraventricular hemorrhage. It also has the potential to reduce the risk of death in all hospitalized neonates. Both the dose of human milk and the timing of introduction are important, which more human milk and earlier introduction being associated with improved health outcomes.

Authors: Britt Pados

Publication information: Nursing for Women’s Health, doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2023.01.008

This paper is available open access, click here.