Pasteurized Donor Human Milk in Healthy Infants

Limited research exists examining the use of pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) in healthy and non-critically ill infants. To inform care for families using PDHM, we present three case exemplars of the experiences of families who used PDHM supplementation in the birth hospital for their healthy infants.

Participants were recruited through word of mouth and social media and interviewed via Zoom using a semi-structured interview guide. Three interviews were conducted in April of 2025.

Qualitative interviews were compared, and characteristics, similarities, and challenges were identified.

Experiences, motivations, and challenges of supplementation with PDHM were outlined and explained. Breastfeeding outcomes and perceptions of how PDHM played a role in the breastfeeding relationship were presented.

Results reveal deeper insight into how PDHM supplementation may support breastfeeding and highlight necessary considerations for caring for healthy infants requiring PDHM supplementation.