Donor Human Milk Utilization in a Level 1 Newborn Unit of a High-Volume Delivery Hospital: A Cautionary Tale.

Cross-sectionalBreastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine· Aug 2026

Donor Human Milk Utilization in a Level 1 Newborn Unit of a High-Volume Delivery Hospital: A Cautionary Tale.

Lindsey Daggle, Courtney Port, Victoria Kim … Karen Bodnar

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NeonatologyCross-sectionalClinical practiceQ2IF 1.8

Only 12.1% of level 1 nursery newborns received donor human milk supplementation.

Donor Human Milk Utilization in a Level 1 Newborn Unit of a High-Volume Delivery Hospital: A Cautionary Tale.

Lindsey Daggle … Karen Bodnar

Breastfeeding medicine · Aug 2026 · Q2 in Pediatrics

Background

Donor human milk (donor human milk) is an alternative to formula for supplementation of breastfed newborns and has been associated with higher in-hospital exclusive breast milk feeding rates.

Purpose

We aimed to characterize donor human milk utilization in our level 1 nursery.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of newborns discharged in 2022 from the level 1 nursery.

n = 9,074 newborns

12.1%

Results

12.1%

most level 1 newborns did not receive donor milk supplementation

n = 9,074 newborns

More results

A total of 10,432 discharges were reviewed-those transferred to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) or another unit were excluded.

More results

Newborns born between 35 and 37 weeks gestation, delivered by cesarean section, or diagnosed with hypoglycemia or small for gestational age were more likely to receive donor human milk ( p < 0.05).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Donor human milk use in the level 1 nursery varied by clinical and sociodemographic factors, revealing inequities. In addition, some doses exceeded recommended supplemental volumes.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Future efforts should focus on ensuring equitable access to donor human milk, standardized dosing and discontinuation guidelines, and evaluation of impacts on exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Donor Human Milk Utilization in a Level 1 Newborn Unit of a High-Volume Delivery Hospital: A Cautionary Tale.

Donor Human Milk Utilization in a Level 1 Newborn Unit of a High-Volume Delivery Hospital: A Cautionary Tale.

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