Fortification of maternal milk for very low birth weight (VLBW) pre-term neonates

Abstract

Human milk is the best food for all neonates; however, in pre-term infants, especially those with a very low birth weight, it may lead to insufficient intake of protein and energy. The use of fortified human milk produces adequate growth in premature infants and satisfies the specific nutritional requirements of these babies. To improve the nutritional management of pre-term infants < or =35 weeks' gestational age, an individualised human milk fortification system based on the analysis of maternal milk was evaluated.