701 - New Islamic fatwa guiding the use of pasteurized donor human milk: A multi-institution collaboration.

Leah MK. Jordan, Children’s Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Linda H. Dech, Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies, Roseville, MN, United States; Nancy MA. Fahim, University of Minnesota Medical School, Long Lake, MN, United States

Background: Neonatologists noted hesitancy in the Muslim community in Minnesota (MN) to using pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM), even when medically indicated for premature and ill babies, due in part to religious concerns about milk kinship - which can occur between a mother who provides milk to a child other than her own. This relationship is then established between her children and the child who receives her milk and could unknowingly lead to an incestuous marriage.

Objective: To address these concerns and promote equitable health outcomes, a coalition of community health partners was established.

Design/Methods: A collaboration including the Minnesota Islamic Council, neonatologists from two major hospital systems (Children’s Minnesota and M Health Fairview), MN Milk Bank for Babies, community health leaders, and the MN Breastfeeding Coalition gathered together to foster a dialogue and offer guidance to the use of PDHM in Muslim families. The gathering event occurred on October 5, 2023 and included a presentation to Muslim scholars about the process of milk banking, PDHM medical use and its benefits for premature and medically fragile infants. After the presentation, there was an opportunity for deep listening and conversation among all community partners.

Results: On Nov 16th, 2023, a press conference was held for the Minnesota Islamic council and scholars to officially sign a new fatwa providing a religious clarification encouraging the use of PDHM for babies when a mother’s own milk is not available. The fatwa focused on milk sharing as a virtue in Islam and strongly encouraged breastfeeding. It clarified Islamic teachings that prioritizes human life and encourages the use of PDHM when indicated for therapeutic/medicinal purposes. The fatwa also ruled that the identification of the donor mother is not a necessity due to the pooling of donor milk. To promote news of this ruling, press releases and media interviews were used to cover the event. This is believed to be the first fatwa regarding PDHM use in the United States, though there are precedents in other countries.

Conclusion(s): This landmark decision, along with collaboratively developed public domain family education materials (handouts, FAQs, videos, recorded webinars) about PDHM, will help clinicians and milk banks across the country navigate conversations with Muslim families about PDHM in a culturally sensitive manner leading to increased health equity and improved health outcomes for babies. This effort also exemplifies the importance of involving the community in addressing specific religious or cultural concerns to improve health equity.

Round table presentation and discussion with Muslim scholars on October 5, 2023


Press conference with Fatwa signing on November 16th, 2023


Handout for families of the Islamic Faith about PDHM