Breastfeeding newborns is crucial in neonatal care and is highly beneficial in reducing neonatal mortality. Even in the case of premature births, the milk produced by the mother of a premature baby is gestation specific and therefore is richer in the actual nutrients that a premature baby needs for the first few weeks. However, there are many challenges associated with breastfeeding newborns and preterm infants, like inadequate milk supply of the mother, high variability in milk quality, and limitations of the nutrient content of the breast milk. Some studies have also indicated that premature babies and very-low-birth-weight babies (less than 1500g) may need more of certain nutrients than breast milk can provide.

The common practice in many baby units is to supplement premature babies by adding extra minerals to mother’s breast milk called human milk fortifiers. Human milk fortifiers (HMF) are recommended extensively by pediatricians to optimize the nutritional composition of maternal milk. Fortification of human milk supplies the nutrients required and supports the growth and bone mineralization in preterm and weak infants.

A wide array of commercial human milk fortifiers available are mainly protein and mineral supplements providing extra nutrition in a concentrated form. Human milk fortifiers (HMF) are usually cow-milk-based, multi-nutrient fortifiers that enhance the richness of breast milk facilitating breast milk with required supplements for the premature babies. They typically contain additional calories and electrolytes in addition to the balanced amounts of protein, calcium, phosphate, and carbohydrate, as well as vitamins and trace minerals. These fortifiers can be bovine-, or human-milk-based; however, most HMF used in NICUs are bovine-based. However, it is essential for the doctors and pediatricians to assess the individual needs of babies taking into account of availability of breast milk, gestational age of the babies, and their medical needs.

NeoLacta products are 100% human milk products that cater to the unique nutritional needs of premature babies. Unlike formula milk which is made of cow’s milk, human milk is easy to digest, making it the perfect food for babies. Therefore, NeoLacta products are superior in terms of safety and efficacy in addressing the needs of neonatal nutrition, thus playing a critical role in minimizing newborn mortality and supporting the optimistic growth and development of preterm and low-birth-weight babies.

Resources –

https://neolacta.com

https://uichildrens.org/health-library/guidelines-use-human-milk-fortifier-neonatal-intensive-care-unit

https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-017-0308-8

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6439523

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/54088Pfortifier.pdf