Long-term breastfeeding outcomes in very preterm infants: predictors and challenges.
Fewer than 1 in 4 very preterm infants were still breastfed at 24 months
Long-term breastfeeding outcomes in very preterm infants: predictors and challenges.
Breastfeeding is considered the gold standard for preterm infant feeding.
This study aimed to assess the rates and duration of exclusive and any breastfeeding up to and beyond 24 months of corrected age and to identify maternal, paternal, perinatal, and postdischarge feeding-related factors associated with long-term breastfeeding outcomes.
This retrospective cohort study included very preterm infants (≤32 weeks' gestation) born between 2017 and 2019 in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.
The rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge was 67.1%, decreasing to 52.1%, 28.8%, and 19.2% at 1, 4, and 6 months, respectively.
The mean exclusive breastfeeding duration was 3.5 ± 2.8 months, and total breastfeeding duration was 12.2 ± 10.5 months.
Early initiation of complementary feeding was observed in 50.1% of infants.
The most frequent reason for breastfeeding cessation (53.4%) was reported lack or insufficient milk.
This study, which provides the first longitudinal report from Türkiye describing breastfeeding outcomes among very preterm infants up to 24 months and beyond, demonstrated that both breastfeeding rates and durations were lower than recommended.