Growth hormone increases breast milk volumes in mothers of preterm infants

To determine the galactopoietic response to recombinant human growth hormone (hGH) in mothers of premature infants with inadequate lactation.

Prospective placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

Twenty healthy mothers on no concurrent medication, with infants born between 26 and 34 weeks' gestation with insufficient milk production for their infants' needs.

Ten mothers received hGH, .2 IU/kg/day subcutaneously to a maximum of 16 IU/day, for 7 days, while 10 mothers received the same volume of placebo. One mother from each group withdrew from the study.

Maternal milk production and plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and growth hormone (GH) were determined before starting treatment and 1 day after stopping therapy. A nurse measured the amount of milk expressed (5 to 6 times daily) plus, if the infant was suckling, weighed the infant before and after feeding.

The mothers were enrolled 35 +/- 26 days after birth; at this time the infants weighed 1.89 +/- .64 kg. Milk production in hGH-treated mothers increased from 139 +/- 49 mL/day to 175 +/- 46 mL/day after 7 days of treatment (a rise of 31%). Placebo-treated mothers showed no significant change from 93 +/- 50 mL/day to 102 +/- 69 mL/day (a rise of 7.6%, not significant). Milk production increased in all treated mothers but decreased in 4 of 9 placebo mothers. Plasma concentrations of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 increased in hGH-treated mothers but not placebo-treated mothers; there was no change in plasma GH levels in either group. No adverse effects were seen with hGH treatment in the mothers or infants.

hGH therapy in mothers with lactational insufficiency can improve breast milk volumes.