Introduction to an Exclusive Human Milk Diet

Audience

neonatologists, NICU nurses and staff, registered dietitians, NICU managers, hospital administrators, obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, pediatric surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, PCICU nurses and staff

The following program content was provided by the speaker.

Overview

An Exclusive Human Milk Diet is a nutritional approach for preterm infants that exclusively uses human milk, either mothers’ own milk or donor human milk, along with human milk-based fortifiers. It excludes all cows’ milk-based products, including cow milk-based fortifiers, formula or liquid protein, as well as any nonhuman components such as MCT oil. EHMD is designed to meet the unique nutritional needs of very low birth weight infants while protecting them from serious complications of prematurity and improving long-term outcomes.

Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• list three outcomes that are better in patients who had an EHMD
• state two components of human milk that retain bioactivity or bioavailability in human milk-based fortifiers

Speaker

Sandra Sullivan, M.D., IBCLC, NABBLM-C is a director of clinical education and professional development at Prolacta Bioscience and a board-certified neonatologist, breastfeeding and lactation medicine specialist, and lactation consultant in Gainesville, Fla. She completed her undergraduate and medical education and training, including pediatric residency and neonatal-perinatal fellowship, at the University of Florida. 

Dr. Sullivan is an accomplished researcher, having published numerous scientific papers and presented her work at international conferences. Her professional passions include human milk and lactation, advocacy, and trauma-informed care. Outside of her professional pursuits, she treasures spending time with her two daughters, traveling and surfing.