S3 Ep 129: Dr. Melinda Elliott | Human Milk as Medicine: How NICU Nutrition Impacts Long-Term Outcomes

TL;DR

Neonatologist Dr. Melinda Elliott explains how exclusive human milk diets are improving NICU outcomes—and what families can do to advocate for better care in and beyond the hospital.

Human Milk, Real Results: How NICU Nutrition Is Changing the Game

Human Milk, Real Results: How NICU Nutrition Is Changing the Game

When Dr. Melinda Elliott began her medical career as a neonatologist, she was focused on caring for the most fragile lives—babies born too soon, too small, or too sick. But a pivotal experience with a single NICU baby changed the course of her work and advocacy. That heartbreaking moment became the spark for her career-long mission: to give medically fragile infants the best chance at thriving, starting with their nutrition.

Today, as the Chief Medical Officer at Prolacta Bioscience, Dr. Elliott leads with a deep belief in the science—and the soul—of neonatal care. In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, she offers a compassionate and evidence-based look at how exclusive human milk diets are transforming NICU outcomes and redefining what’s possible for premature babies.

A Shift from Surviving to Thriving

Premature infants have unique nutritional needs, and for decades, the default solution included cow milk–based fortifiers. But research began to show a concerning trend: infants given cow milk fortifiers had increased risks of severe conditions like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)—a potentially deadly inflammation of the intestines. This pushed researchers and physicians like Dr. Elliott to look for safer, more effective alternatives.

Prolacta’s exclusive human milk–based fortifiers—made from donated, screened human milk—provide the nutrients fragile infants need without the added risks. The impact? Better weight gain, fewer infections, and shorter NICU stays.

“Human milk is more than food,” Dr. Elliott says. “It’s medicine.”

Parents as Partners, Not Visitors

One of the most compelling themes in Dr. Elliott’s approach is the need to reframe how we treat families in the NICU. Parents should not be visitors—they are an essential part of the care team. When hospitals invite parents into daily rounds, include them in decision-making, and educate them on how to advocate for their babies, the outcomes improve.

She encourages every parent to ask: What kind of milk fortifier is being used? Is it cow-milk-based? Human-milk-based? What are the long-term implications of this choice?

Building a More Equitable NICU Experience

Dr. Elliott doesn’t shy away from the systemic issues either. She speaks about the gaps in access to high-quality NICU nutrition—especially among lower-income families or hospitals that rely heavily on insurance reimbursement. Prolacta is working not only to create life-saving products, but also to shape policy and awareness so that every infant, no matter their ZIP code, can receive the best care possible.

Paid parental leave, fair compensation for milk donors, and improved support for breastfeeding and pumping parents are all part of the puzzle. The science is clear—but now we need systems that match.

The Power of Milk Donation

For those looking to give back, milk donation through Prolacta offers a direct way to support NICU babies. Donors are compensated for their time and effort, and their milk is processed with hospital-grade standards to ensure safety. This isn’t just about feeding babies—it’s about improving survival rates and long-term outcomes.

An Invitation to Learn—and Lead

Whether you’ve had a NICU experience or not, Dr. Elliott’s message is universal: we all have a role to play in improving early life outcomes. From informed parenting to policy change, human milk–based medicine is more than a medical innovation—it’s a human one.

And it starts with awareness.

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