The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the impact of donor milk vs formula supplementation on human milk feeding and the health outcomes of infants who require supplementation in well-baby units. It aims to explore whether supplementation with donor milk vs formula for infants during the initial hospital stay in a well-baby unit will increase both the exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding at 4 months. The Investigators will also explore whether the type of supplementation will positively affect measures of newborns' health, growth, behavior, feeding efficacy, and parental stress. Each participating infant born to a diabetic mother OR born small for his/her gestational age (\<2500 grams) OR late preterm (35 0/7-36 6/7 weeks of gestational age) is assigned at random to 2 groups. The groups are: 1) Donor milk: all babies in this group will receive pasteurized donor milk from a trusted milk bank. 2) Formula: all babies in this group will receive formula as a standard of care.
Background and Importance: Human milk is the ideal nutrition for all infants, and research has demonstrated that human donor milk can provide health benefits for preterm infants. Approximately 35-50% of late preterm and term infants admitted to a well-baby unit after birth require supplementation due to various reasons including hypoglycemia, weight loss, or insufficient availability of parent's milk. However, there is limited research to guide decision making on which supplement to prescribe. Despite this, many hospitals are introducing donor milk in well-baby units in light of the growing recognition of the health protective effects of human milk. Goals/ Research Aims: The primary research aim of this study is to compare the effects of supplementing parent's milk with donor milk versus formula in infants at increased risk for supplementation (infant born to a mother with diabetes, infant with a birth weight smaller than expected for the gestational age (SGA)) on exclusive human milk feeding at 4 months of age. Secondary research aims include: examining the effects of supplementing parent's milk with donor milk on any or exclusive human milk feeding rates at 1, 2 and 3 months, infant health and growth at hospital discharge and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months, and breast feeding self-efficacy scores. Exploratory outcomes include: infant temperament scores at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months, and parental mental health scores at 2 and 4 months using validated questionaires, milk cortisol concentrations at 2 and 4 months, the use of informally shared milk, and the associated financial costs of a donor milk program versus formula. Methods/ Approaches/ Expertise: This proposed study is a randomized, controlled, single-center trial that will involve assigning participants to two intervention arms (n=56 infants/arm). The intervention will involve providing donor milk or formula in bottles and will last for the duration of the infant's initial hospitalization, followed by monthly phone calls and a virtual or in-person assessment at 4 months. At each time-point of 1, 2, 3, and 4-month, surveys of breast feeding self-efficacy, and health and infant temparement will be conducted, and the infant's anthropometrics will be measured. Additionally, measures of parental depression, anxiety and stress will be assessed with survey-based tools at 2 and 4 months. A coincident human milk sample will be collected at 2 and 4 months and will be analysed for cortisol concentrations. The research team has experience running feeding interventions and donor milk trials in newborns, and includes experts in nursing, medicine, dietetics, and milk banking. Expected Outcomes: This proposed research holds the potential to make a meaningful impact on public health. In Canada, with approximately 350,000 level I nursery admissions each year and high rates of formula supplementation ranging from 35-50%, there is a clear opportunity for improvement. By promoting exclusive human milk feeding, exploring evidence-based practices to inform hospital guidelines, and reducing the reliance on informal milk sharing, this research aims to enhance the health outcomes for both parents and infants. Additionally, it seeks to deepen the understanding of early parent-child interactions, fostering greater awareness and knowledge in this area.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
112
The intervention will involve providing donor milk as required as a supplement to parent milk and will last for the duration of the infant's initial hospitalization. The intervention will continue throughout the hospitalization at any time that supplementation is recommended by the clinical team, and is expected to last from 0 to 72 hours post-birth. All donor milk will be aliquoted into individualized syringes in the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank which is located in Sinai Health. The decision regarding the timing and duration of the supplementation will be determined by the medical team in the well-baby unit based on the specific needs and circumstances of each mother-infant dyad. As this study follows a pragmatic approach, the clinical team will assess the need for supplementation based on the mother-infant dyad's condition.
The intervention will involve providing formula as required as a supplement to parent milk and as a standard of care, and will last for the duration of the infant's initial hospitalization. The intervention will continue throughout the hospitalization at any time that supplementation is recommended by the clinical team, and is expected to last from 0 to 72 hours post-birth. The formula will be supplied from the hospital's inventory in accordance with the standard procedure followed by the well-baby unit to supplement infants. The decision regarding the timing and duration of the supplementation will be determined by the medical team in the well-baby unit based on the specific needs and circumstances of each mother-infant dyad.
Labour and Delivery at Mount Sinai Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Maternal Fetal Medicine and Placenta clinics
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Placenta Clinic
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Donor milk supplementation and exclusive breastfeeding rate at 4 months
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit improves exclusive human milk feeding rate at 4 months of age compared to supplementation with formula.
Time frame: At 4 months follow up
Exploring donor milk supplementation and exclusive or any breastfeeding rate at 1, 2, and 3 months
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit improves any, or exclusive, human milk feeding rates at 1, 2, and 3 months of age rate compared to supplementation with formula.
Time frame: At 1, 2, and 3 months follow ups
Exploring donor milk supplementation and breastfeeding self-efficacy scores at 1, 2, 3 and 4 months
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit improves breastfeeding self-efficacy scores at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months compared to supplementation with formula. Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale - Short Form, BSES-SF will be used which consists of 14 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all confident to always confident. Individuals who score higher on the BSES-SF are expressing more confidence in their ability to breastfeed successfully.
Time frame: At 1, 2, 3, and 4 months follow ups
Exploring donor milk supplementation and glucose concentrations during hospital stay
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit improves hypoglycemia in infants compared to supplementation with formula. Glucose concentrations during hospital stay and at discharge will be extracted from patient charts and compared between groups.
Time frame: From 2 to 72 hours after delivery or until discharge
Exploring donor milk supplementation and percent weight loss during hospital stay
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit improves weight loss in infants compared to supplementation with formula. Infant weight during the hospital stay and at discharge will be extracted from patient charts and percent weight loss will be compared between groups.
Time frame: From birth to 72 hours after delivery or until discharge.
Exploring donor milk supplementation and the length of hospital stay
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit affects their length of hospital stay compared to supplementation with formula.
Time frame: From birth to 72 hours after delivery or until discharge
Exploring donor milk supplementation and weight measurements
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit affects their weight compared to supplementation with formula at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months using standardized procedures including mechanical scales.
Time frame: 1, 2, 3, and 4 months
Exploring donor milk supplementation and length measurements
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit affects their length compared to supplementation with formula at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months using standardized procedures including length boards.
Time frame: 1, 2, 3, and 4 months
Exploring donor milk supplementation and head circumference measurements
To determine whether the provision of donor milk as prescribed as a supplement to parent's milk for infants at higher risk for supplementation and admitted to a well-baby unit affects their head circumference compared to supplementation with formula at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months using standardized procedures including non-stretchable measuring tapes.
Time frame: 1, 2, 3, and 4 months
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