Bibliographic information
GuidelineWHO recommendations for care of the preterm or low-birth-weight infant.
Year of Publication2022
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Updated
When mother’s own milk is not available, donor human milk may be considered for feeding of preterm or low-birth-weight (LBW) infants, including very preterm (< 32 weeks’ gestation) or very LBW (< 1.5 kg) infants.
Recommended in favor
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Moderate
Notes and Remarks
Remarks
- The recommendation is conditional on shared decision-making with parents; this includes informing parents about the benefits and risks and the need for further research.
- The potential harm of necrotizing enterocolitis from infant formula was considered by the GDG to be more clinically important than the benefit of increased growth from infant formula.
- Donor human milk was pasteurized in all but one trial, so the GDG was not able to make a recommendation on the use of unpasteurized milk.
- Safe and affordable milk-banking facilities are needed for the provision of donor human milk.
- Mothers should also be encouraged and supported before and after birth to provide their own breastmilk (including colostrum) for their infants.