Prevalence and patterns of gestational parent's own milk feeds among infants with major congenital surgical anomalies in the NICU.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and patterns of gestational parent's own milk (GPOM) feedings among infants undergoing major surgery during their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission.

STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed de-identified electronic medical records of all infants admitted to a regional NICU 2014-2015 who underwent surgery for a gastrointestinal, cardiac, or other major organ system defect(s).

RESULTS: Of 79 infants, 85% received any GPOM during the NICU hospitalization. The median proportion of GPOM feeds was 66%. There was a trend toward decreassing proportions of GPOM with progressive months in NICU. The rate of any and exclusive GPOM feeds at NICU discharge was 49% and 29%, respectively. Infants who had a GI anomaly were more likely than infants with a cardiac anomaly to be discharged from NICU receiving GPOM.

CONCLUSION: Barriers to the exclusive and continued provision of GPOM in this population require further study and intervention.