JAMA Netw Open

Does breast milk enema speed meconium evacuation in preterm infants?

May 1, 2024

In this clinical trial at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, researchers tested the effects of breast milk enema on meconium evacuation and found that breast milk reduced the time to achieve complete meconium evacuation and achieved full enteral feeding for preterm infants with a gestational age of 23 to 30 weeks. Subgroup analyses highlight the need for tailored interventions based on gestational age considerations.

• Researchers randomly assigned 286 preterm infants with a gestational age of 23 to 30 weeks to receive either breast milk enemas (n=141) or normal saline enemas (n=145) 48 hours after birth. Primary outcomes were time to complete meconium evacuation and time to achieve full enteral feeding.
• The time to achieve complete meconium evacuation was significantly shorter in the breast milk group than in the normal saline group (-2.2 days; 95% CI, -3.2 to -1.2 days).
• The time to achieve full enteral feeding was also significantly shorter in the breast milk group than in the normal saline group (-4.6 days; 95% CI, -8.0 to -1.2 days).
• The duration of total parenteral nutrition was significantly shorter in the breast milk group than in the normal saline group (-4.6 days; 95% CI, -8.6 to -1.0 days).

Source:

Zheng L, et al. (2024, April 1). JAMA Netw Open. Breast Milk Enema and Meconium Evacuation Among Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38648060/