Necessity of human milk banking in Japan: Questionnaire survey of neonatologists.
BACKGROUND
If their own mother's milk (OMM) is not available, another mother's milk may be used for extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants. Human milk is a bodily fluid, however, therefore we have assumed that other mother's milk is currently seldom given to infants despite its superiority to formula. Although the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended using donor human milk (DHM) from a human milk bank (HMB) in the case that OMM is not available, there is no HMB in Japan. To assess whether other mother's milk is used for ELBW infants and whether an HMB is necessary in Japan, we surveyed neonatal intensive care units (NICU) via questionnaire.


METHODS
The questionnaire was sent by email to members of the Japanese Neonatologist Association who are responsible for NICU.


RESULTS
In total, 126 completed questionnaires (70.7%) were returned and analyzed. One-fourth of NICU give other mother's milk to ELBW infants. The first choice of nutrition is OMM, but other mother's milk or formula is given to infants at 19% of NICU if OMM is unavailable. Approximately three-fourths of NICU would like an HMB.


CONCLUSIONS
Although human milk contains contagious agents and authorities do not recommend giving other mother's milk as a substitute for OMM, other mother's milk is still a choice in NICU in Japan. Many neonatologists, however, would prefer a safer alternative, that is, DHM obtained from an accredited HMB. A well-regulated HMB should be established and safe DHM should be available for all preterm infants if necessary.
Department of Pediatrics, Showa University Koto Toyosu Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Katsumi
K
Mizuno
Department of Pediatrics, Showa University Koto Toyosu Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Motoichiro
M
Sakurai
Department of Pediatrics, Showa University of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Kazuo
K
Itabashi
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000639:trends*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan; D017784:Milk Banks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008895:Milk, Human; D000072156:Neonatologists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
donor human milk; human milk bank; other mother's milk; own mother's milk.