Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) is available for certain babies in the Family Newborn and Neonatal Intensive Care Units at IWK Health. There are many health benefits to breastfeeding your baby, and breastfeeding is strongly recommended by healthcare professionals. However, in some special situations, there may be unique challenges to breastfeeding your baby. At IWK Health there are guidelines to support the use of PDHM including criteria for which babies are eligible.
Benefits of breast milk
-
Parents’ own milk is the best nutrition and provides specific immune protection for the baby.
-
Breast milk contains a wide variety of nutrients, antibodies, hormones and growth factors that support growth and development.
-
Breast milk coats and protects the gastrointestinal tract and decreases the risk or severity of bowel disease known as Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC).
-
Breast milk promotes the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract.
-
Breast milk is easily digested and well tolerated.
-
Breast milk positively affects long term neurodevelopment.
-
Breast milk decreases the risk of many other health outcomes such as diabetes, allergies and asthma.
-
Breast milk prevents exposure to large volumes of cows’ milk protein found in formula.
Benefits of Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM)
-
Provides immune protection to the infant (some immunoglobulins and lactoferrin remain after pasteurization)
-
Is well tolerated and improves feeding tolerance
-
Reduces the incidence of NEC
Risks of PDHM
-
Long-term use of PDHM has shown slower growth rates in the preterm population. Additional nutrient supplementation may be required.
-
As with the use of blood products, the risk of infection however slight cannot be reduced to zero. To date, there have been no documented transmissions of infectious diseases through properly treated PDHM.
Human Milk Donation
There are many health benefits to breastfeeding your baby, and breastfeeding is strongly recommended by healthcare professionals. However, in some special situations, there may be unique challenges to breastfeeding your baby. As parents, you may look for alternative sources to mother’s own milk to feed your baby.
The safest alternative to mother’s own milk is pasteurized donor milk from a regulated human milk bank. These milk banks take steps to screen milk donors, and safely collect, process, handle, test, and store the milk. At this time, breast milk acquired by the IWK from a regulated human milk bank is restricted to those babies who are considered most vulnerable, such as preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
There are 3 milk banks in Canada that are members of Human Milk Banking Association of North America, and 2 of them accept donations from all over Canada! Further information about human milk donation can be found at the following link.
Talk with a Healthcare Provider First
The choice to feed your baby human milk from a source other than the baby’s mother should always be discussed with your baby’s healthcare provider. The nutritional needs of each baby are different and depend on many factors. It is important to discuss all nutritional options for your baby with a healthcare provider to make an informed decision. If you choose to use breast milk from another source you need to be aware of any potential risks to your baby. Healthcare providers can help you to make an informed decision and can discuss information on the risks and benefits of all infant feeding options, including the use of donor milk.
Consider the Possible Safety Risks
If you are considering feeding your baby with human milk from a source other than the baby’s mother, you should know that there are possible health and safety risks for the baby. When human milk is obtained directly from individuals or through the Internet, the donor may not have been screened for infectious diseases or any other contamination risks. It is also possible that the milk may not have been collected and stored in a way that reduces safety risks to the baby.
Potential risks for the baby include:
-
Exposure to infectious diseases from viruses or bacteria present in the breast milk such as HIV, Hepatitis B or C, and human T-lymphotrophic virus. There have been no reported cases of a baby getting HIV from a single feeding of another mother’s breast milk. However, babies can get HIV through breast milk after many feedings.
-
Exposure to chemical contaminants, such as tobacco, alcohol, and/or illegal drugs.
-
Exposure to a limited number of prescription and/or nonprescription drugs that might be in the human milk, including herbal supplements.
-
If human milk is not collected, handled and stored properly, it could, like any type of milk, become contaminated with bacteria that make it unsafe to drink (e.g. listeria, staph aureus).
-
The milk may also contain cow’s milk or soy milk. Studies have shown that some breast milk purchased from the internet has been diluted with cow’s milk or soy milk.
Making an Informed Decision to Feed your Baby with Breast Milk from a Known Source
If you choose to obtain milk from someone you know personally (e.g. sister) it is important for both parties to discuss with a healthcare provider how proper testing can be done on the breast milk donor before any milk exchange begins, and how the donor can take steps to maintain the safety of the breast milk produced and donated over time. It is recommended that donors be screened by a healthcare provider for HIV, human T-lymphotrophic virus, Hepatitis B and C prior to any breast milk donation.
Making an Informed Decision to Feed your Baby with Breast Milk from an Unknown Source
If after talking with your baby’s healthcare provider, you decide to feed your baby with human milk obtained from an unknown, unscreened source (e.g. breast milk that has been purchased online) please ensure your healthcare provider is aware as there may be additional steps that will be required for storage and handling of the milk during your baby’s care in the hospital. Please discuss this with your healthcare provider.