Human Milk Donation in Northern Italy: Barriers, Facilitators and Information Sources

Arianna Virano, Alessandra Coscia, Paola Tonetto, Cristina Perathoner, Enrico Bertino, Paolo Gardois, Guido E Moro

Background: Breastfeeding represents the gold standard for term and preterm infants. When mother’s milk is insufficient, the best alternative is donor human milk, especially for preterm and high-risk infants. In Italy, there are 33 human milk banks, but collected milk is still insufficient to meet the need. Research aim: The research aimed at exploring women’s knowledge and attitudes towards milk banks and identifying factors influencing or encouraging mothers to donate milk. Methods: In this mixed-methods study, we administered a questionnaire to 153 women admitted to an Italian obstetric hospital. Subsequently, we interviewed 7 human milk donors and 10 mothers who utilized donor milk to feed their infants. Results: Almost all participants intend to breastfeed and know at least one of the benefits of human milk. Only 55,6% of respondents know the importance of donor human milk to feed preterm and sick infants. 71,2% is aware that milk can be donated, but only 7,2% knows how. 63,4% would like to obtain more information about milk donation. 56,9% is interested in becoming donor and 45,1% would use donor human milk. Human milk donors state that the procedure is easy, quick and gratifying. Reasons for donation include “helping other babies” and “avoiding waste”. Human milk users prove thankful and stress the importance of donor milk in preventing diseases. Conclusions: A certain lack of knowledge about human milk banks and donation emerges. Women would like to receive better information. The experience of donating and using human milk was described as positive by all the participants.