Does the breastfed preterm infant ‘do’ better?
If an infant has appropriate weight for postconceptual age, he or she should be breastfed if possible. Breastfed preterm infants demonstrate significant growth and neurodevelopmental advantages compared to formula fed infants3,4. There is also a positive relationship between the duration of breastfeeding and the later Bayley MentalIndex that measures an infant’s cognitive, motor, and behavioural development. Furthermore, breastfeeding is linked to a reduction in the number of serious adverse events i.e. the number of hospitalisation episodes after discharge1. The duration of breastfeeding also has a significant advantage to bone mass in later life5. Q. Can fortification or supplementation of breastmilk help? Breastfed infants may not be able to consume enough milk to meet their increased protein, calcium and phosphorus requirements. Extremely low birthweight infants who are fed breastmilk fortified or supplemented with other nutrients have been shown to have improved length and head ci
