Adequacy of expressed breast milk for early gwoth of preterm infants.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Poor weight gain observed in preterm infants who were fed expressed breast milk compared with those fed a cows'' milk formula prompted a detailed study of early postnatal growth in preterm infants fed these 2 milks. The 68 infants were divided into 2 categories by gestational age at birth 28-32 wk (n = 28), 33-36 wk (n = 40). They were randomly allocated to a feed of expressed breast milk or a milk formula (Ostermilk 1). Rates of weight gain, linear growth and head circumference growth were evaluated over 2 periods: birth-1 mo. and 1-2 mo. The younger group who were fed breast milk showed slower overall growth rates over the 1st mo. than those fed formula. In the 2nd mo., and for the older infants over both of the 2-monthly periods, growth rates were similar in the 2 feeding regimens. Expressed breast milk is probably inadequate for the growth of very immature preterm infants during early postnatal life.