What does fortifier do to breast milk?

Understanding Breast Milk Fortifiers
Breast milk fortifiers (BMF) play a crucial role in enhancing the nutritional profile of breast milk, particularly for premature or low-birth-weight infants. These specialized supplements are designed to address the unique dietary needs of these vulnerable babies, who often require additional nutrients to support their growth and development.
What is a Breast Milk Fortifier?
A breast milk fortifier is a nutritional supplement that can be added to expressed breast milk. Typically available in powder form, these fortifiers are rich in calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. The primary purpose of fortifying breast milk is to provide a concentrated boost of nutrition that helps promote overall growth, including critical areas such as brain and bone development.
How Does Fortification Work?
When fortifying breast milk, a specific volume of the fortifier is mixed with the milk just before feeding. For instance, one sachet of fortifier can be added to 50 milliliters of breast milk, ensuring that the infant receives the necessary nutrients in each feeding. This process is particularly important for preterm infants, who may not be able to consume enough breast milk to meet their nutritional needs solely through breastfeeding.
The Impact on Nutritional Composition
The addition of a breast milk fortifier alters the osmotic pressure of the milk, which can influence gastric emptying. Higher osmotic pressure may delay gastric emptying, meaning that the milk stays in the stomach longer, potentially affecting how quickly the infant feels hungry again. This adjustment can be beneficial, as it allows for a more sustained release of nutrients into the bloodstream.
Health Benefits for Infants
Research indicates that using human milk-based fortifiers can significantly improve health outcomes for the smallest premature babies. These fortifiers help close the nutritional gap between infant formula and human breast milk, ensuring that infants receive adequate nutrition to thrive. The fortification process not only supports immediate growth but also contributes to long-term health benefits, making it a vital component of neonatal care in hospitals.
Conclusion
In summary, breast milk fortifiers are essential nutritional supplements that enhance the quality of breast milk for infants, particularly those born prematurely or with low birth weights. By providing additional calories, proteins, and essential nutrients, these fortifiers help ensure that vulnerable infants receive the comprehensive nutrition they need for healthy growth and development.

When to stop fortifying formula?

If normal growth is not achieved by 3 months corrected age, fortification of PDPF may continue until 6 months and up to 12 months corrected age as needed.

Why does breastmilk need to be fortified?

Although breast milk is the best source of nutrition, breast milk alone cannot meet the increased nutrient needs. To meet these needs, breast milk often is fortified to add calories, protein, vitamins and minerals to support growth and development.

What does breast milk fortifier do?

Adding a breast milk fortifier, in the form of a powder mixed with the breast milk, provides additional energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and salts needed to help your baby grow. Usually we add breast milk fortifier to mother’s breast milk for babies under 1800g once they are on full milk feeds.

Does breastmilk lose nutrients when pumped?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), freshly expressed breast milk can be safely kept at room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. Generally, when freshly pumped, breast milk is at its peak regarding nutrients.

Why do hospitals fortify breast milk?

Premature babies need extra protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to help them grow and build strong bones. In the NICU, we fortify breast milk (add calories, fat, and proteins) to help preemies grow.

What are the side effects of fortifying breast milk?

Since all the commonly used commercially prepared fortifiers are made from cow’s milk proteins (like regular formulas), some babies may have difficulty initially when the fortifier is added. They may have delayed emptying from the stomach, abdominal distention or even gas. The stools may change somewhat in color.

How much fortifier to add to breast milk?

Measure 5mls of expressed breast milk in a sterile bottle. Add 1 sachet of breast milk fortifier to the 5mls breast milk. Gently shake the bottle until the powder has dissolved. Using a 5ml syringe give 5ml of the BMF supplement orally before each full breastfeed 4 times per day.

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 should you fortify breast milk?

If baby is growing, no supplementation is needed. If baby is not growing (according to your pediatrician), baby needs supplementation. This most often occurs in premature babies when they experience rapid growth spurts.