Date of Award

Fall 10-18-2021

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

PhD Nursing Practice

Department

Nursing

Advisor

Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP

Committee Member

Susan Darby, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Naomi Bar-Yam, Ph.D.

Keywords

pasteurized donor human milk, human milk analysis, macronutrient analysis, breastfeeding, template, milk bank

Abstract

Abstract

A milk bank is a nonprofit service that collects, screens, and processes by pasteurization human milk that is donated by mothers not biologically related to the infant in need. Milk is then dispensed to hospitals and private homes to babies with a prescription. A milk bank collects and analyzes human milk, as breast milk is the ideal nutrition source and the gold standard feeding method for infants. Breast milk significantly reduces premature babies' chance of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and offers gastrointestinal protection, increases immunity, decreases the likelihood of asthma, allergies, ear infections, obesity, and respiratory ailments. Some mothers are unable to breastfeed their own babies related to a multitude of medical conditions, including; breast surgery, breast cancer, thyroid disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hypoplasia, medication contraindication, complicated birth, postpartum hemorrhage, or retained placenta. For these mothers and babies, donor milk is a viable option. The use of a milk analyzer when evaluating and processing human milk can provide better insight into the macronutrient content of the donor sample. This process can allow for a more targeted allocation of the sample. Providing the 23-week-old premature infant with milk that has a higher protein count is more suitable than offering that same sample to a full-term nine-pound baby. This quality improvement project will chronicle the initiation of an analyzer into clinical practice, develop a replicable template for that incorporation, and follow the impact of quantified human breast milk in the field. Through the guidance offered by the template, the long-term goal is increased participation of milk banks in macronutrient analysis. Identification of the values available in each sample offers a better product to families in need and has the potential to improve health and growth rates. Keywords: pasteurized donor human milk, human milk analysis, macronutrient analysis, breastfeeding, template, milk bank

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