Parental and health professionals’ attitudes towards donor human milk: Implications for utilisation, breastfeeding outcomes and future directions

Donor human milk (DHM) is widely recommended as the preferred alternative when mother’s own milk is unavailable, particularly for preterm and vulnerable infants. Despite strong international guidance, DHM utilisation remains variable across countries, neonatal networks and individual units. This review synthesises evidence on early DHM introduction and breastfeeding outcomes, international recommendations, cultural acceptability, service demand, clinical practice variation and regulatory frameworks. Emerging evidence indicates that early DHM use does not undermine maternal lactation and may support breastfeeding continuation when integrated within structured lactation support pathways.

Dr Mahgul Ghouri
Resident Neonatal Doctor

Albana Biba
Neonatal Breastfeeding Facilitator

Dr Aysha Ahtisham
Resident Neonatal Doctor

Dr Imdad Ali
Neonatal Consultant
imdad.ali1@nhs.net

Barts Health NHS Trust, London

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Keywords

donor human milk; mother’s own milk; breastfeeding; lactation

Key points

Donor human milk (DHM) is widely recommended as the preferred alternative when mother’s own milk is unavailable.
Surveys identified knowledge gaps, attitudinal factors and modifiable barriers to DHM use.
The WHO recommends DHM for preterm and low birthweight infants.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 16/ISSUE3, MAY 2020

Response of UK milk banks to ensure the safety and supply of donor human milk in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting several challenges to human milk banks and has highlighted a number of vulnerabilities in service provision that have been long known by those who work in the sector. In recent weeks, milk banks across the UK have worked together to understand any risks posed to infants, milk bank staff and volunteers by COVID-19, and to put in place mitigation strategies to ensure the safeguarded provision and safety of donor human milk. The authors call on policymakers to better support these essential services for vulnerable neonates during the COVID-19 pandemic and minimise the impact of future challenges through greater investment in milk bank infrastructure, research and innovation.