Human milk and NEC
Mother’s own milk provides the most protection against necrotizing enterocolitis. When mother’s own milk is not available, pasteurized donor milk is the next safest option. Formula does not provide any protection against NEC.
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Exploring Human Milk's Role in Protecting Against NEC
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease that primarily affects premature infants. NEC can also affect term babies, especially infants with a medical condition, like a congenital heart defect. NEC causes severe inflammation of the intestine, leading to a bacterial infection causing necrosis (tissue death).
How to Optimize the Use of Mother's Own Milk in the NICU
Breastmilk Provides Essential Protection
Breastmilk provides essential nutrients, antibodies, and enzymes that are critical for all infants, but can be lifesaving for premature and low birth weight infants who have underdeveloped immune systems and immature guts. Breastmilk protects against infections, such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis, which can be deadly for premature or low-birth-weight babies. For infants at risk of NEC, mother’s milk and donor milk can be lifesaving.
Mother’s own milk provides the best protection against NEC. When mother’s own milk is not available, pasteurized donor milk is the next safest option. If neither mother’s milk nor donor milk is available, then an infant might need to receive formula. Formula does not provide any protection against NEC. Without mother’s milk or donor milk, premature and medically fragile infants are at higher risk of NEC.
To learn more about formula and NEC, please read this article by the NEC Society’s Key Opinion Leader, Dr. Mark Underwood.
Jennifer holding her son, Micah, transferring breastmilk into bottles that will be taken and prepped for his feeding tube.
When mother’s own milk is not available, pasteurized donor human milk offers the next best protection against NEC.
How Does Donor Milk Protect Against NEC?
Immune Protection: Donor milk contains immunoglobulins (antibodies) that help boost the infant’s immune system, protecting them from NEC. Donor milk contains cytokines and growth factors that help regulate the infant’s immune response.
Gut Health: Donor milk helps to support the development of a healthy microbiome, the community of beneficial bacteria in the gut. These bacteria help prevent harmful pathogens from taking hold and thus reduce the risk of NEC.
- Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are present in donor milk and act as prebiotics, fostering the growth of beneficial bacteria and preventing harmful bacteria from causing infection.
- Donor milk is rich in enzymes, proteins, and fatty acids that promote the development of a baby’s gut, aiding in digestion and improving overall growth.
- The bioactive components in donor milk help reduce inflammation in the gut, a key factor in the development of NEC. This helps to maintain the integrity of the intestinal lining and prevent infection.
Find a Milk Bank Near You
The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) believes in a world where all infants have access to human milk through support of breastfeeding and use of pasteurized donor human milk.
Exploring Human Milk's Role in Protecting Against NEC
The NEC Society’s webinar series on human milk covered evidence-based practices for optimizing the use of human milk with babies at increased risk of NEC, as well as practical strategies for partnering with NICU parents.
Webinar: Mother’s Own Milk
Webinar: Pasteurized Donor Milk
Additional Articles
This collection of articles is designed to support families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in understanding necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
