Finger Feeding as a Method of HMF Supplementation After Discharge

Overview

Human Milk Fortifier (HMF) is designed to supply additional calories, protein, vitamins and minerals to infants less than 37 weeks gestation or those less than 1500 g at birth. Liquid and powder types of HMF are available in the commercial market. Usually, one packet of powdered HMF is mixed to 25-50 cc expressed breast milk. Fortification of human milk is technically difficult in fully breastfed infants and artificial teats such as bottle feedings are common used. A study reported lower breastfeeding rate in intervention group who used HMF in comparison with control. Finger feeding method is associated with a better breastfeeding rate in hospital use. A feasibility study in Vienna reports finger feeding method as a way to provide fortification at home was acceptable.We hypothesize that finger feeding is an easy way for HMF supplementation after discharge to increase successful breastfeeding and improve growth in preterm and or low birth weight infants.

For infants with very low birth weight (\<1500 g) convincing evidence indicates that providing multi-nutrients fortification including protein, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, and micro-nutrients improves infant growth during hospitalization and health outcomes. A study of predominantly breastfed preterm infants with fortification after discharge shows better growth than unsupplemented counterparts at 3 months corrected age. Another study showed that post discharged growth of \< 1800 g infants with human milk fortifier (HMF) supplementation until 48 weeks gestational age improved. But without the intensive lactation counselling the breast milk in HMF group were lower than control group if artificial teats were used. 4. Finger feeding is an alternative method to feed infants to increase successful breastfeeding, but unpopular in Indonesia. Study on finger feeding are still limited and most study of them are not randomized trial. We evaluate the method of supplementation on breastfeeding rate, growth and safety. We also do in depth interview with those who have high or low compliance.