Donor Breast Milk and Serum Ferritin Levels in Very Preterm Infants

Donor Breast Milk and Serum Ferritin Levels in Very Preterm Infants: A Prospective, Observational Study

This study compares the iron levels in very preterm infants receiving donor breast (DBM) milk to very preterm infants receiving maternal breast milk (MBM).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. All preterm infants born between 29 weeks and 0 days -32 weeks and 6 days of gestational age and admitted to the NICU at Advent Health for Children

2. Received either MBM or DBM starting between 5 to10 days of life

   a. Infants receiving >50% feeding volume by DBM for the first 14 days of life will be considered to have received predominantly DBM. The comparison group will be infants who received > 50% of MBM for the first 14 days of life.

3. Parent able to read and write in the English language.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Death prior to completion of participation
2. Extremis with likelihood of death prior to completion of participation in the study
3. Blood transfusion as determined by clinical team during the study
4. Major congenital anomaly or genetic syndrome and
5. Major surgical GI conditions that preclude feeding