Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36581945›Full record

ArticleInternational breastfeeding journal2022

Breastfeeding and human milk bank in a neonatal intensive care unit: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in an Italian cohort of very low birth weight infants.

Ilia Bresesti, Laura Morlacchi, Caterina Cazzaniga, Camilla Sangiorgio, Lorenza Bertù, Maria Elena Bolis, Angela Bossi, Massimo Agosti

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Article in International breastfeeding journal, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ilia BresestiDivision of Neonatology, Woman and Child Department, "F. Del Ponte" Hospital, ASST-Settelaghi, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy. ilia.bresesti@uninsubria.it.
Laura MorlacchiDivision of Neonatology, Woman and Child Department, "F. Del Ponte" Hospital, ASST-Settelaghi, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.
Caterina CazzanigaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
Camilla SangiorgioDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
Lorenza BertùDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
Maria Elena BolisDivision of Neonatology, Woman and Child Department, "F. Del Ponte" Hospital, ASST-Settelaghi, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.
Angela BossiDivision of Neonatology, Woman and Child Department, "F. Del Ponte" Hospital, ASST-Settelaghi, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.
Massimo AgostiDivision of Neonatology, Woman and Child Department, "F. Del Ponte" Hospital, ASST-Settelaghi, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundParental stress in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) is well known, as is the stress induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. This combination might increase stress to the extent of affecting the availability of maternal expressed milk and the success of establishing breastfeeding. This is particularly relevant in very preterm infants.

methodsWe conducted a single-centre retrospective analysis in two cohorts of very low birth weight infants born in a hospital in Italy. Babies born before the pandemic (September 2017 - December 2019) (n = 101) and during the pandemic (March 2020 - December 2021) (n = 67) were included in the analysis. We compared the rate of babies fed with maternal milk (both expressed and / or donated) at the achievement of full enteral feeding and the rate of those exclusively breastfed at discharge in the two groups. Then, we analysed the impact of donated human milk availability on infant formula use. We also compared mother's need for psychological support during NICU stay and the duration of psychological follow-up after discharge.

resultsIn our NICU the availability of expressed maternal milk significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic (86.1% before the pandemic vs 44.8% during the pandemic, p < 0.001) at the time of full enteral feeding achievement. Thanks to the availability of donated human milk, the rate of formula-fed babies remained almost unchanged (13.9% vs 14.9%). At discharge, the rate of breastfeeding was similar (73.3% vs 72.7%). The maternal need for psychological support was significantly higher during the pandemic (33% vs 64%, p < 0.001), as well as the duration of follow-up > 6 months (1% vs 15%, p < 0.001). No differences in the main clinical outcomes were found.

conclusionPandemic-induced stress had a significant impact on the availability of expressed maternal milk in NICU. However, the presence of human donated milk was fundamental in preventing increased use of infant formula during NICU stays. This underlines how strategies to implement the widespread establishment of donor milk banks on a national level are warranted. Further research is desirable to optimise the use of donated human milk banks during emergency situations.

Indexed as

COVID-19Milk BanksBreast FeedingFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematureInfant, Very Low Birth WeightIntensive Care Units, NeonatalItalyMilk, HumanPandemicsRetrospective StudiesCOVID-19 pandemicDonated human milkNeonatal nutritionParental stressPreterm infants

Identifiers

PMID36581945
PMCPMC9798351

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.