Premature Babies Should Be Fed Mothers Milk To Avoid NEC From Feeding Them Infant Formula

A fat baby is not necessarily a healthy baby and mother's milk offers the premature baby its best chance to survive and thrive

Monday, December 13, 2021 - Mothers and pediatricians that are tasked with feeding a baby born prematurely look to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for specific guidance about feeding and nurturing their new babies. Mothers of babies that are born prematurely, those born before the 37th week of pregnancy, account for around 10% of births in the United States. Premature babies are born with underdeveloped digestive systems and most have difficulty gaining weight. Not gaining weight is a clinical sign that may panic young parents that associate a fat baby with a healthy baby, but that is not always the case. Just fattening up a baby does not guarantee that the premature baby is getting all of the nutrition they need. Not getting enough Iron, for example, could be the reason for a premature baby not being able to put on weight. Several baby formulas were recalled over the summer by the Food and Drug Administration because they contained insufficient amounts of iron. Infant formulas like Enfamil and Similac have been linked with causing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and parents are filing NEC baby formula lawsuits. Infant formula sold under the brand names Kendamil, HiPP, Bioland, and Holle was pulled from shelves in the United States, and parents were advised to dispose of any unused amounts of the products they purchased. Moreover, it is unthinkable that a doctor would recommend baby formulas over a mother's breast milk to supply the special nutritional needs of a newborn baby.

Mothers that are concerned with premie NEC risks should look to breastfeed their premature infants because of the many health benefits mother's milk provides the baby. Mothers may say that they are unable to or do not wish to breastfeed but they are doing their child a serious disservice. Healthy Children.org writes, "Providing breast milk for a premature or seriously ill newborn may be a challenge, but it is usually possible and it is certainly an effective way to enhance your baby's health, growth, and development." There are challenges delivering mother's milk to the premature baby but no more so than delivering infant formula. "No matter how your breast milk is delivered to her, it provides the best nourishment possible at a time when such an advantage makes a big difference." Health Children provide an unparalleled practical guide for mothers of premie babies. Mothers should know that their breastmilk at the time a premature baby is born, also is premature and perfectly designed to provide a baby the exact nutrients proteins, and minerals the child needs during the critical first month of life. Most importantly, breastmilk delivers a type of fat that the premature baby's delicate intestinal system can easily absorb, and it is downright dangerous to feed a premature baby formula. Infant formula lacks the high concentrations of antibodies that premature babies need: "Human milk is easier for her to digest than formula and avoids exposing her immature intestinal lining to the cow's milk proteins found in premature infant formula. Premature babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop intestinal infections than are babies who are formula-fed. The milk you produce in the first few days contains high concentrations of antibodies to help your baby fight infection."

Sources:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Providing-Breastmilk-for-Premature-and-Ill-Newborns.aspx">

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