Acceptability of Donor Human Milk in Muslim Populations in Canada
Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
25 March 2019
Abstract
Human milk is considered to be the best nutritional option for newborns. When a mother gives birth prematurely, she may have difficulty providing breast milk for her child. Pasteurized donor human milk (DM) is a better feeding alternative than preterm formula. Human milk banks in North America pool the milk from up to 5 women before distribution, a concept which does not pose a problem for most living in the Western world. Muslim families living in North America may reject the use of DM due to the idea of milk kinship and the anonymity of the donor. This paper aims to provide knowledge to Canadian clinicians on these Islamic religious beliefs relevant to DM and how they may impact their practice. Additionally, this paper provides Canadian clinicians with information to alleviate concerns Muslim families may have regarding the use of DM for their preterm infant.
Résumé
Le lait maternel est considéré comme la meilleure option nutritionnelle pour les nouveau-nés. Lorsqu’une mère accouche prématurément, elle peut avoir de la difficulté à fournir du lait maternel à son enfant. Le lait maternel pasteurisé de donneuses (LD) est une meilleure option d’alimentation que la préparation pour nourrissons prématurés. Les banques de lait maternel en Amérique du Nord regroupent le lait de jusqu’à cinq femmes avant de le distribuer, un concept non problématique pour la plupart des gens vivant en Occident. Cependant, les familles musulmanes vivant en Amérique du Nord peuvent refuser l’utilisation du LD en raison de l’idée du lien de parenté associé au lait maternel et de l’anonymat des donneuses. Cet article vise à fournir des connaissances aux cliniciens canadiens sur ces croyances religieuses islamiques concernant le LD et la manière dont elles peuvent influencer leur pratique. De plus, cet article fournit aux cliniciens canadiens de l’information pour atténuer les inquiétudes que les familles musulmanes peuvent avoir concernant le recours au LD chez leur enfant prématuré.
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Financial support: No sources of financial support to declare.
Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 80 • Number 4 • December 2019
Pages: 186 - 189
History
Version of record online: 25 March 2019
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© 2019.
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NicoleClouthierBScFN, CindyUlrichRD, and Dr. BrendaHartmanPhD, RD. 2019. Acceptability of Donor Human Milk in Muslim Populations in Canada. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.
80(4): 186-189. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2019-006
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