Last update Dec. 4, 2024

Prematurity, premature, preterm

Compatible

Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

For preterm infants (born before 37 weeks gestation), the mother's own milk is the gold standard for preventing short-term (necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal infections) and long-term disease. Neonatal units should adopt approaches that facilitate feeding with mother's own milk (Schanler 1995).

When own mother's milk is not possible, donated bank milk is a better option for preterm health than commercial milk formulas. (Lawrence 2016)

Many preterm infants, especially those born more preterm and of lower birth weight will require hospital care in neonatal units and will not be able to feed directly from the breast: they will require milk expressed manually or with pumps (“breast pumps”) by the mother herself and administered by naso- or oro-gastric tube.

Early administration of colostrum, the mother-kangaroo care method and “developmental and family centered care” are indispensable to achieve the optimal health outcome of the preterm infant.

Important citations on preterm care and feeding can be found in the References section.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Group

Prematurity, premature, preterm belongs to this group or family:

References

  1. Wang M, Gong X, Yu L, Song F, Li D, Fan Q, Zhang T, Yan X. Early enteral nutrition with exclusive donor milk instead of formula milk affects the time of full enteral feeding for very low birth weight infants. Front Nutr. 2024 Apr 24;11:1345768. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  2. Essex C, Hegedus C, Vincent K, Shiflett A, Rohrer A, Chetta KE. Maternal, neonatal, and nutritional risk factors for medical and surgical necrotizing enterocolitis. J Perinatol. 2024 Dec;44(12):1762-1767. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  3. Li X, Li Y, Qian L, Han P, Feng H, Jiang H. Mothers' experiences of breast milk expression during separation from their hospitalized infants: a systematic review of qualitative evidence. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Feb 10;24(1):124. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  4. Galis R, Trif P, Mudura D, Mazela J, Daly MC, Kramer BW, Diggikar S. Association of Fortification with Human Milk versus Bovine Milk-Based Fortifiers on Short-Term Outcomes in Preterm Infants-A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2024 Mar 21;16(6). Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  5. Wynter Z, Gorham JA, Thompson AB, Mundy C, Waller JL, Stansfield BK. Immediate fortification of human milk with a bovine milk-derived human milk fortifier in very low birth weight infants: a randomized clinical trial. J Perinatol. 2024 Nov;44(11):1591-1596. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  6. McLeish J, Aloysius A, Gale C, Quigley MA, Kurinczuk JJ, Alderdice F. What supports mothers of very preterm babies to start and continue breast milk feeding neonatal units? A qualitative COM-B analysis of mothers' experiences. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Nov 6;24(1):725. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  7. De Rose DU, Maggiora E, Maiocco G, Morniroli D, Vizzari G, Tiraferri V, Coscia A, Cresi F, Dotta A, Salvatori G, Giannì ML. Improving growth in preterm infants through nutrition: a practical overview. Front Nutr. 2024 Sep 10;11:1449022. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  8. Sivanandan S, Sankar MJ. Kangaroo mother care for preterm or low birth weight infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Glob Health. 2023 Jun;8(6). Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  9. Hair AB, Scottoline B, Good M. Dilemmas in human milk fortification. J Perinatol. 2023 Jan;43(1):103-107. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  10. Çaka SY, Topal S, Yurttutan S, Aytemiz S, Çıkar Y, Sarı M. Effects of kangaroo mother care on feeding intolerance in preterm infants. J Trop Pediatr. 2023 Feb 6;69(2). Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  11. Bergner EM, Taylor SN, Gollins LA, Hair AB. Human Milk Fortification: A Practical Analysis of Current Evidence. Clin Perinatol. 2022 Jun;49(2):447-460. Abstract
  12. Hernández-Martínez A, Quirós-García JM, García-Sanchez FJ, Puebla-Martín MÁ, Rodríguez-Almagro D, Rodríguez-Almagro J. Expectations and Experiences of Spanish Primiparous Women Who Decide to Breastfeed Their Infants and Strategies for Change in 2020-A Qualitative Study. Nurs Rep. 2022 Mar 2;12(1):175-187. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  13. WHO. WHO recommendations for care of the preterm or low birth weight infant. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. 2022 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  14. Wang Y, Zhao T, Zhang Y, Li S, Cong X. Positive Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care on Long-Term Breastfeeding Rates, Growth, and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants. Breastfeed Med. 2021 Apr;16(4):282-291. Abstract
  15. Paricio Talayero JM. Prematuros. En: El libro de la lactancia. p 339-350 Ed. Penguin R.H. Barcelona, 2020
  16. Torres Martínez E, García Robles AA, Gormaz Moreno M, Gimeno Navarro A, Izquierdo Macián I, Poveda Andrés JL, Vento M. Efecto de la adición de fortificantes y de módulo de proteínas en la osmolalidad de la leche materna donada. [Effect of adding fortifiers and protein supplements on the osmolality of donated maternal milk]. An Pediatr (Engl Ed). 2020 Nov;93(5):297-304. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  17. Arslanoglu S, Boquien CY, King C, Lamireau D, Tonetto P, Barnett D, Bertino E, Gaya A, Gebauer C, Grovslien A, Moro GE, Weaver G, Wesolowska AM, Picaud JC. Fortification of Human Milk for Preterm Infants: Update and Recommendations of the European Milk Bank Association (EMBA) Working Group on Human Milk Fortification. Front Pediatr. 2019 Mar 22;7:76. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  18. Batista CLC, Ribeiro VS, Nascimento MDDSB, Rodrigues VP. Association between pacifier use and bottle-feeding and unfavorable behaviors during breastfeeding. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2018 Nov-Dec;94(6):596-601. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  19. ABM: Brodribb W. ABM Clinical Protocol #9: Use of Galactogogues in Initiating or Augmenting Maternal Milk Production, Second Revision 2018. Breastfeed Med. 2018 Jun;13(5):307-314 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  20. NHS. Royal Berkshire. Expressing colostrum in pregnancy. Brochure. 2018 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  21. Bujold M, Feeley N, Axelin A, Cinquino C. Expressing Human Milk in the NICU: Coping Mechanisms and Challenges Shape the Complex Experience of Closeness and Separation. Adv Neonatal Care. 2018 Feb;18(1):38-48. Abstract
  22. Lawrence RA, Lawrence RM. Breastfeeding. A guide for the medical profession. Eighth Edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2016
  23. Alonso-Díaz C, Utrera-Torres I, de Alba-Romero C, Flores-Antón B, López-Maestro M, Lora-Pablos D, Pallás-Alonso CR. Prácticas de alimentación con leche materna en recién nacidos menores de 1.500 g o de menos de 32 semanas. [Feeding practices with human milk in newborns less than 1.500 g or less than 32 weeks]. An Pediatr (Barc). 2016 Jul;85(1):26-33. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  24. Pallás Alonso CR. Cuidados centrados en el desarrollo en las unidades neonatales. An Pediatr Contin. 2014;12(2):62-7 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  25. ABM. Academy Of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocol Committee. ABM Clinical Protocol #9: Use of galactogogues in initiating or augmenting the rate of maternal milk secretion (First Revision January 2011). Breastfeed Med. 2011 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  26. Conde-Agudelo A, Belizán JM, Diaz-Rossello J. Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Mar 16;(3):CD002771. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  27. ABM. Comité de Protocolos de la Academia Médica de Lactancia Materna. ABM Protocolo Clínico #9: Uso de Galactogogos para Iniciar o aumentar la tasa de secreción de Leche Materna. Breastfeed Med. 2011 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  28. HWA - Healthy Western Australia, Department of Health. More about breastfeeding. Health Pamphlet 2009 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  29. Henderson JJ, Hartmann PE, Newnham JP, Simmer K. Effect of preterm birth and antenatal corticosteroid treatment on lactogenesis II in women. Pediatrics. 2008 Abstract
  30. OMS. Método Madre Canguro. Guía práctica. OMS. Ginebra, 2004 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  31. Schanler RJ, Shulman RJ, Lau C, Smith EO, Heitkemper MM. Feeding strategies for premature infants: randomized trial of gastrointestinal priming and tube-feeding method. Pediatrics. 1999 Feb;103(2):434-9. Abstract
  32. Schanler RJ, Shulman RJ, Lau C. Feeding strategies for premature infants: beneficial outcomes of feeding fortified human milk versus preterm formula. Pediatrics. 1999 Jun;103(6 Pt 1):1150-7. Abstract
  33. Tessier R, Cristo M, Velez S, Giron M, de Calume ZF, Ruiz-Palaez JG, Charpak Y, Charpak N. Kangaroo mother care and the bonding hypothesis. Pediatrics. 1998 Aug;102(2):e17. Abstract
  34. Schanler RJ. Suitability of human milk for the low-birthweight infant. Clin Perinatol. 1995 Mar;22(1):207-22. Review. Abstract

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