The Bridge Feed Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled trial to investigate whether in moderate and late preterm infants (33-35 weeks gestation) using supplementary donor breast milk versus formula for the first 5 days as a bridge to breast milk feeding improves exclusive breast milk feeds on discharge.
IRAS ID
353001
Contact name
Richard Wach
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
Breast milk is recommended for all babies as it’s often better tolerated than formula and has proven benefits including better neurodevelopmental outcomes, reduced hospital admissions and improved maternal wellbeing.
When a baby is born prematurely, a mother’s own milk supply may not be sufficient in the first few days, and babies are given supplementary feeds and fluids. For babies born very prematurely (before 33 weeks gestation), donor breast milk is preferred over formula as research shows it reduces complications like necrotising enterocolitis (gut inflammation) and retinopathy of prematurity (which may affect vision) and increases the likelihood of breast feeding later.
Research is limited about whether supplementing mother’s milk with donor breast milk in moderately-premature babies will help establish breast feeds and therefore gain the potential benefit from breast milk feeds.
This study will explore whether in moderately-premature babies, supplementing feeds with donor breast milk, versus formula, will help babies tolerate feeds better, get them home earlier and help mothers provide their own milk for their baby.
We will:
• Invite families of babies born at 33-35 weeks gestation at Southmead and Bath Hospitals to take part
• Randomly allocate 338 mothers to supplementary feeds of EITHER donor breast milk OR formula for first 5 days
• Collect information about mother (e.g. age, ethnicity, previous experience of breast feeding) and about baby (e.g. health and feeding up to 6 months corrected age).
Donor breast milk is provided by mothers with excess supply, who are screened just like blood donors. Milk is collected, tested and pasteurised by the South-West Donor Milk Bank (Southmead Hospital, Bristol).
A Parent Partner Group has contributed to study design and will help share the findings. Arabic and Polish-speaking families will be supported via translated documents and interpreters.REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0168
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion