- Premature babies and Breastmilk
- Here are some links to other sites and articles about BFing prem babies - and under the links are some facts about the massive benefit of breastmilk to a premature, low birthweight or post-fut surgery baby.
BABIES WHO RECEIVE BREASTMILK ARE AT DECREASED RISK OF:
• GI INFECTION
• URT/ EAR INFECTION
• NEC
• URINARY INFECTION
• INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES
• ALLERGIC CONDITIONS
• IMPAIRED NEUROLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES OF HUMAN MILK FOR SICK BABIES
• REDUCED INFECTION / NEC
• EARLIER TRANSITION TO FULL ENTERAL FEEDING
• EASIER TO DIGEST
Additional advantages to pre-term infant of receiving human milk (even if from a donor):
Preterm infants fed breast milk rather than preterm formula:
– had lower BP at 13-16yrs
– were less insulin resistant
– had a better LDL:HDL cholesterol ratioTypical Neonatal Unit guidelines for Enteral Feeding :
Milk of choice, in order of preference, is:
1. Breast milk – suckled by baby from the breast
2. Mother's expressed breast milk (EBM), fresh
3. Mother's EBM, frozen
4. Donor EBM
5. Formula feed appropriate to gestational age /birth weight
Donor milk should be used before formula when the baby is deemed at high risk of developing necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) , if it is available, for all intensive care babies , and if baby shows poor tolerance of formula feeds
Parental consent would be sought prior to a baby receiving donor EBM
For premature babies whose mums plan to breastfeed in the longer term, skin to skin contact should be strongly encouraged from an early stage.
Bottle feeding should be avoided if at all possible given the different technique a baby uses to bottle feed compared to feeding at the breast.
Cup feeding is often possible from 30 weeks' gestation.
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