Women’s Experiences Related to the Use of Pasteurized Donor Human Milk for Their Late Preterm and Term Infants

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of women in New Zealand who used pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) for their late preterm and term infants. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive. SETTING: A hospital in New Zealand that obtains PDHM from the Whāngai Ora milk bank. PARTICIPANTS: We recruited 51 women (English-speaking, aged over 18 years) whose infants (late preterm through to term) received PDHM during 2022 and 2023. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with participants face to face or via Zoom. We used Braun and Clarke's six-step approach to reflexive thematic analysis to guide the analysis RESULTS: Based on the interviews, we identified three themes: Easy Emphatic Acceptance of PDHM; Shifting From Hesitation to Acceptance of PDHM; and Lingering Uncertainty About the Decision to Use PDHM. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the critical role of health care professionals in shaping women's decision-making by offering clear, consistent, and empathetic communication about the safety, benefits, and purpose of PDHM. To improve informed consent and maternal confidence, health care systems should prioritize staff training, standardize information protocols, and be aware of cultural nuances when discussing PDHM.