The report provides evidence-based lactation support practices, including those that address social inequities for very low birth weight infants 
ITASCA, IL--A mother’s own milk provides the best short- and long-term health benefits to infants who are hospitalized with very low birth weight, the American Academy of Pediatrics states in a newly released clinical report.
The revised report, “Promoting Human Milk and Breastfeeding for the Very Low Birth Weight Infant,” offers more detail on use of pasteurized donor human milk when a mother’s own milk is not available. If neither a mother’s own milk or pasteurized donor human milk with fortifiers is available—or if parents choose not to use donor milk—then preterm infant formula is recommended for very low birth weight babies, according to the report.
Written by the AAP Committee on Fetus and Newborn, Section on Breastfeeding, and Committee on Nutrition, the clinical report is published in the February 2026 Pediatrics (published Jan. 12, 2026, online).
Clinical reports created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.  
“A mother’s own milk, when fortified properly, gives very low birth weight babies powerful health benefits both right now and in the future,” said Margaret G. Parker, MD, FAAP, a lead author of the report and member of the Committee on Fetus and Newborn. “No formula can fully match the unique makeup and protective qualities of human milk. In addition, breastfeeding has been associated with many health benefits for mothers, including a reduction in cardiovascular disease and cancer.”
When a mother’s own milk is not available, AAP recommends the use of pasteurized donor human milk from screened and approved donors. While donated human milk is helpful, it doesn’t offer all the same benefits as mother’s own milk, such as lowering the risk of infections or supporting brain development.
Human milk with multi-nutrient fortifiers helps protect premature babies from a serious intestinal illness, Necrotizing Enterocolitis.
The AAP outlines how physicians and staff in the neonatal intensive care units play a key role in helping families start and continue breastfeeding by providing:
Low birth-weight infants also need extra nutrients called fortifiers to supplement breast milk.
When human donor milk is not available, preterm infant formula is recommended for very low birth weight babies.
“Clinicians, birthing centers and hospitals can support families who all share the same goal – to provide the best source of nutrition possible for their baby, especially those who are born early and need extra attention,” said Dr. Parker.
“Physicians are encouraged to counsel families on the health benefits of mother’s own milk, use of maternal medications, risk of infection and informal milk sharing.”
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.