Early pumping frequency and coming to volume for mother's own milk feeding in hospitalized infants

ObjectiveTo identify daily pumping frequencies associated with coming to volume (CTV: producing > 500 milliliters of milk per day by postnatal day 14) for mothers of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Study designWe compared demographics and daily pumping frequencies for mothers who did and did not experience CTV.ResultsOf 427 mothers who produced milk, 201 (50.1%) experienced CTV. Race, insurance, delivery type and birthweight were associated with CTV. For mothers who experienced CTV, average pumping episodes increased daily, stabilizing at 5 pumping episodes per day by postnatal day 5 (5 x 5). Women who experienced CTV were also more likely to have pumped between 0100 and 0500 (AM pumping). In multivariable analysis birthweight, 5 x 5 and AM pumping were each independently associated with CTV.ConclusionSupporting mothers of NICU infants to achieve 5 or more daily pumping sessions by postnatal day 5 could improve likelihood of achieving CTV.

Automated summary

This study aimed to identify the daily pumping frequencies associated with producing more than 500 milliliters of milk per day by postnatal day 14 (CTV) for mothers of infants in the NICU. Demographics and daily pumping frequencies were compared between mothers who did and did not experience CTV. The results showed associations between race, insurance, delivery type, birthweight, and CTV. For mothers who experienced CTV, there was a steady increase in average pumping episodes, stabilizing at 5 pumping episodes per day by postnatal day 5 (5 x 5). These mothers were also more likely to pump between 0100 and 0500 (AM pumping). Birthweight, 5 x 5, and AM pumping were independently associated with CTV in multivariable analysis. Supporting NICU mothers to achieve 5 or more daily pumping sessions by postnatal day 5 could improve the likelihood of achieving CTV.