‘Mother’s own milk’ for premature infants: Minority mothers need effective strategies

March 24, 2021 –

For premature infants who can’t breastfeed on their own, “mother’s own milk” (MOM) is by far the best nutrition

. There’s an urgent need for effective ways to increase the relatively low rates of MOM feeding for preterm infants born to Black and Hispanic mothers. But so far, research has offered little or no specific guidance, concludes an evidence-based review in


Advances in Neonatal Care


, official journal of the

National Association of Neonatal Nurses

. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by

Wolters Kluwer

.

Until studies of targeted, culturally appropriate interventions are performed, available evidence points to some promising approaches to overcoming obstacles and facilitating MOM feedings for premature infants of Black or Hispanic mothers, according to the review by Diana Cartagena, PhD, RN, CPNP, of Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach, Va., and colleagues.

No studies specifically designed to encourage MOM feedings for Black or Hispanic preterm infants

Provided primarily by expressing (pumping) the mother’s breast milk, MOM feedings have critical benefits for preterm infants – ranging from a lower risk of prematurity-related complications to fewer neurodevelopmental difficulties and disabilities later in childhood. The higher the “dose” of breast milk, the better the outcomes.

Minority mothers of premature infants may face special challenges in providing MOM feedings. “In the United States, Hispanic and Black preterm infants are less likely than their white counterparts to receive feedings consisting of MOM,” Dr. Cartagena and coauthors write. They performed a comprehensive review of the past decade of research, looking for evidence-based strategies to encourage and improve MOM feedings to this group of infants.

However, the initial search identified “zero articles” – not a single study evaluating specific programs designed to promote MOM feedings in Black or Hispanic preterm infants. “All current strategies to encourage and improve breast milk expression and feeding in minority mothers are based on programs developed and tested mainly in White mothers,” Dr. Cartagena comments.

Thus the researchers broadened their search for promising approaches to decreasing racial/ethnic disparities in breast milk expression – focusing on studies that included at least 30 percent Black or Hispanic mothers. Based on ten such studies, Dr. Cartagena and colleagues make some recommendations to improve MOM feedings, including:

• 
  Providing a welcoming, family-centered neonatal ICU environment.
  
  Professional lactation support is essential for all mothers of premature infants, including early help with breast milk expression and access to breast pumps and supplies. Giving mothers the opportunity to provide skin-to-skin care for their babies is a promising approach to establishing and maintaining the milk supply.
• 
  Addressing language and cultural barriers.
  
  For Hispanic mothers, having translators and providing educational materials in the mother’s native language are important strategies to reduce disparities. In one study, providing lactation support from bilingual counselors increased MOM feeding at discharge. In another study, Black women who set an initial goal to provide any breast milk for their premature infant were more likely to provide MOM after leaving the hospital.
• 
  Providing social and emotional support.
  
  Black women may lack breastfeeding role models and experience; their own mothers (the baby’s grandmother) may be an especially important source of support. For younger mothers, social media and even mobile apps may be appealing options. Emotional and technical support from hospital staff may help to overcome barriers to providing MOM, such as obtaining and learning to use a breast pump or challenges in the home environment.

“Limited evidence suggests that variation in neonatal ICU breastfeeding support practices may explain (in part), variation in disparities and supports further research in this area,” Dr. Cartagena and colleagues write. They emphasize the need for rigorous, well-designed studies “to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted and culturally sensitive lactation support interventions in Hispanic and Black mothers.”

Click here to read “Strategies to Improve Mother’s Own Milk Expression in Black and Hispanic Mothers of Premature Infants.”

DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000866

###

About

Advances in Neonatal Care

Advances in Neonatal Care


takes a unique and dynamic approach to the original research and clinical practice articles it publishes. Addressing the practice challenges faced every day–caring for the 40,000-plus low-birth-weight infants in Level II and Level III NICUs each year–the journal promotes evidence-based care and improved outcomes for the tiniest patients and their families. Peer-reviewed editorial includes unique and detailed visual and teaching aids, such as Family Teaching Toolbox, Research to Practice, Cultivating Clinical Expertise, and Online Features.

About the National Association of Neonatal Nurses

The

National Association of Neonatal Nurses

(NANN) is the longest established professional voice that supports the professional needs of neonatal nurses throughout their careers through excellence in practice, education, research and professional development. NANN is your neonatal connection to the strongest and most vibrant community of neonatal nurses.

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