Oropharyngeal Mother's Milk: State of the Science and Influence on Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Clin Perinatol. 2019 Mar;46(1):77-88. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2018.09.005. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Abstract

Oropharyngeal administration of mother's own milk-placing drops of milk directly onto the neonate's oral mucosa-may serve to (ex utero) mimic the protective effects of amniotic fluid for the extremely low birth weight infant; providing protection against necrotizing enterocolitis. This article presents current evidence to support biological plausibility for the use of OroPharyngeal Therapy with Mother's Own Milk (OPT-MOM) as an immunomodulatory therapy; an adjunct to enteral feeds of mother's milk administered via a nasogastric or orogastric tube. Current methods and techniques are reviewed, published evidence to guide clinical practice will be presented, and controversies in practice will be addressed.

Keywords: Breastmilk; Human milk; Mother’s own milk; NEC; Oral care; Oral immune; Oropharyngeal; Oropharyngeal colostrum; Oropharyngeal milk; Oropharyngeal therapy; Premature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amniotic Fluid
  • Colostrum / immunology*
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Enteral Nutrition / methods*
  • Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / immunology
  • Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation*
  • Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Lymphoid Tissue / immunology*
  • Milk, Human / immunology*
  • Mothers
  • Oropharynx / immunology*
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Cytokines