Infants receiving donor breast milk should be maintained on it until what gestational age?

Infants receiving donor breast milk should be maintained on it until they reach a corrected gestational age of 34 weeks. This is primarily because infants born prematurely may have immature feeding skills and require the nutritional benefits found in donor breast milk to support their growth and development.

Breast milk, especially from donors, provides essential nutrients, antibodies, and other bioactive substances that are crucial for the health of premature infants. Research indicates that maintaining donor breast milk until 34 weeks helps reduce the risk of complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and improves overall growth outcomes.

As infants near this corrected gestational age, they typically begin to show improved feeding capabilities and can transition to formula or their mother’s milk, which can be introduced when they are more developmentally ready to handle it. This approach balances both nutritional needs and the safe transition to oral feeding.

Understanding this context highlights the importance of donor breast milk in the management of preterm infants and aligning feeding practices with their physical development needs.