Clinical and economic outcomes of infants receiving breast milk in the NICU.

ISSUES AND PURPOSE This study compared clinical and economic outcomes for infants who were exclusively fed breast milk and infants who were fed commercial formula. DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective medical record review from a regional neonatal intensive care unit (N = 80) using consultation logs from the lactation coordinator and a matched sample of formula-fed infants. RESULTS Neither clinical (weight gain, length of stay, days of parenteral nutrition) nor economic outcomes (direct variable costs, net revenue) differed significantly between the groups. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS While it may not be possible to demonstrate sufficient cost savings while the infant resides within the NICU to justify a lactation coordinator, long-term clinical and economic outcomes may be sensitive to this specialized nursing service.