How long to fortify breast milk for preemie?

Understanding the Fortification of Breast Milk for Preterm Infants
Fortifying breast milk for premature infants is a critical aspect of neonatal care, aimed at ensuring these vulnerable babies receive the necessary nutrients for optimal growth and development. The process of fortification typically begins shortly after birth, depending on the infant’s specific needs and the clinical guidelines followed by the healthcare team.
When to Start Fortification
Fortification of breast milk is generally recommended for preterm infants, particularly those born before 32 weeks of gestation or those with low birth weight. The fortification process usually starts within the first few days of life, as soon as the infant is stable enough to begin feeding. This early intervention is crucial because preterm infants have higher nutritional requirements than full-term infants, and breast milk alone may not provide sufficient calories and nutrients, particularly protein and calcium.
Duration of Fortification
The duration for which breast milk should be fortified can vary significantly based on the infant’s growth and development. Typically, fortification continues until the infant reaches a weight of about 1800 to 2000 grams (approximately 4 to 4.5 pounds) or until they are able to consume adequate amounts of breast milk or formula without the need for additional fortification. This transition usually occurs around the time the infant is ready to be discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Types of Fortifiers
There are two primary types of fortifiers used: human milk fortifiers (HMF) and preterm formula powders. Human milk fortifiers are specifically designed to enhance the nutritional content of expressed breast milk, while preterm formula powders can also be used to achieve similar goals. Recent studies have shown that both methods can be effective, but the choice often depends on the clinical situation and the preferences of the healthcare team.
Monitoring and Adjustments
Throughout the fortification process, healthcare providers closely monitor the infant’s growth, weight gain, and overall health. Adjustments to the fortification regimen may be made based on these assessments. For instance, if an infant is not gaining weight adequately, the healthcare team may increase the amount of fortifier added to the breast milk.
Conclusion
In summary, fortifying breast milk for preterm infants is a vital practice that begins shortly after birth and continues until the infant reaches a certain weight or developmental milestone. This process not only supports the immediate nutritional needs of preterm infants but also plays a significant role in their long-term health outcomes. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to work closely with healthcare professionals to ensure that their preterm infants receive the best possible care during this critical period.

How can I increase my breast milk supply for premature babies?

Expressing frequently throughout a 24-hour period (including overnight) is more effective in stimulating your milk supply than expressing for a long period of time at one sitting. In the first few days after birth the amount of colostrum expressed may vary from a few drops to a few mls.

Do preemies need fortified milk?

Human milk should be supplemented (fortified) with the nutrients in short supply, particularly with protein, calcium, and phosphate to meet high requirements of this group of tiny preterm infants as discussed in the next sections.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for breast milk?

Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.

What is the 120 pumping rule?

The first 12 weeks of your breastfeeding journey requires frequent breastmilk removal, stimulating healthy milk production. Studies show moms who exclusively pump for a minimum of 120 minutes per day can make enough to feed their babies primarily breastmilk.

When can you stop fortifying breast milk?

It is generally recommended (5,23) to gradually stop adding breast milk fortifier when the weight, length, and head circumference of gestational age infants are located in P25-P50 of the same gender and age infants, and when the small gestational age premature infants reach P10.

How to fortify breast milk with Neosure?

Add 1 teaspoon of level, unpacked Neosure powder to 70 ml or 2 1/3 ounces of breast milk. Mix well. Refrigerate unused portion. Use within 24 hours of preparation.

How long do you use NeoSure?

Similac NeoSure* premature post-discharge baby formula promotes excellent catch-up growth1 during a premature baby’s first 12 months of life.

How long do preemies need to be on Neosure?

Preterm infants should remain on fortified maternal breastmilk or preterm formula regimen for a minimum of 6 months corrected age and high-risk infants (e.g., h/o extreme prematurity, poor growth) may likely need to continue post discharge diet until 12month of corrected age to support adequate growth.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for breast milk?

The ‘Rule of Three’ guideline suggests allowing the baby to nurse for at least three minutes on each breast to ensure they receive a balance of foremilk (initial, thirst-quenching milk) and hindmilk (higher-fat, calorie-rich milk).

Why does NICU fortify breast milk?

Insufficient nutrient intakes place the infant at risk of impaired neurodevelopment. To prevent EUGR, which is associated with poor neurocognitive outcome, and to avoid specific nutrient deficiencies, nutrient fortification of HM is necessary (19, 29, 42–46).