Background: Human milk diet, preferably mother's own milk (MOM) over donor milk (DM), is recommended for preterm infants. Expression of MOM in proximity to preterm infants, especially during or immediately after skin-to-skin contact (SSC), is associated with greater milk production. However, the correlation between SSC and MOM production during hospital admission in preterm infants has not yet been studied. Our study investigated the relationship between SSC and MOM production and consumption in preterm infants during the first postnatal month of life. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. Mothers and their preterm infants born at <35 weeks by gestational age (GA) and eligible for SSC within the first 5 postnatal days were eligible for the study. Mothers were given a binder to document pumped breast milk volumes and SSC sessions. Pumped breast milk volumes, enteral feeding type and volume, and SSC duration and frequency were collected daily over the first 28 days of life, along with demographic, perinatal, and feeding data from electronic medical records (EMR). Results: Mean birth GA and weight were 30 ± 3 weeks and 1,443 ± 576 g, respectively. SSC duration was inversely correlated with GA and weight. The SSC duration was positively correlated with ingested MOM volume after correcting for birth GA. The SSC duration was predictive of increased volumes of pumped MOM. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SSC duration is associated with improved MOM production and consumption. SSC can be a useful tool to increase MOM exposure and improve long-term health outcomes in preterm infants.
Keywords: breast feeding; milk production; premature infant; skin to skin contact.