Privacy, Early Colostrum, and Gestational Age are Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding in Preterm and Sick Term Infants.

Our study was designed to assess the rates of exclusive breastfeeding (defined as direct breastfeeding) and the use of mother's own milk (MOM) in preterm infants and sick term infants at discharge and to identify potential influencing factors such as gestational age, early colostrum, and privacy. The study was conducted at a German level III neonatal department. All preterm and sick term infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, the pediatric intensive care unit, the intermediate care unit, and the low care ward were included in the study.