Optimising the provision of human milk for preterm infants

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
As survival rates for preterm infants improve, attention is focused on improving the quality of survival through nutritional management. Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) remains one of the most critical complications. Although no individual randomised controlled trial (RCT) has been sufficiently powered to examine the true effect of breast milk on the incidence of NEC in preterm babies,1 a series of observational studies and a meta-analysis suggest a reduced incidence in those fed breast milk.2–5 There is also evidence that human milk is better tolerated than formula, leading to a faster attainment of enteral feeding.6