How premature babies are fed in the NICU

Breastmilk is the best nutrition for your baby, but in the case of extremely premature babies, a mother’s own breastmilk cannot provide all the nutrients these babies need.

Why? Because babies born early require more nutrition to grow. Often they can only tolerate small amounts of milk at a time because their stomachs are small. In these cases, your baby’s caregivers may want to provide your baby with a human milk fortifier, which will increase calories, protein and minerals without increasing volume.

What are the nutritional goals for a preemie?

• Promote adequate weight gain
• Ensure good nutritional status
• Limit bottle and formula feedings
• Sustain or improve feedings at the breast

How Will My Baby Be Fed in the NICU?

If your baby's stomach or intestines are not working, or if the baby is too sick to try to feed on milk, your baby will be given Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) before he/she can consume breastmilk. This fluid is given through the IV and is different from breastmilk or formula. Because there are risks with TPN, the shorter time required for TPN, the better. Terry Johnson, a neonatal nurse practitioner, explains what a central line and TPN is in this video:

Can My Milk Provide All the Nutrition My Baby Needs?

In some cases, your baby's caregivers may want to provide your baby with a human milk fortifier or donor milk.

About Human Milk Fortifiers

Because of premature babies additional energy and protein requirements, they would need to consume more breastmilk than their tiny stomach could hold in order to get the proper nutrition. That’s why doctors may decide to add a human milk fortifier (HMF) to your breastmilk for your premature infant’s feedings.1 HMFs are intended to address a premature baby’s nutritional requirements by providing additional protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals. Prolact+ H²MF is the only HMF made from human breastmilk! To learn more about the solution, visit www.prolacta.com. Get a 1-page guide that can help you have a conversation with your baby’s NICU doctor about Prolact+ H2MF®.

In the video below, Dr. Danny Saesim, MD, neonatologist and Terry Johnson, a neonatal nurse practitioner, address three commonly asked questions:

1. Are there different types of human milk fortifiers?
2. What is an HMF and why does my preemie need it?
3. How is the HMF administered in the NICU?

SOURCES:

1. Kleinman R, ed. Pediatric Nutrition Handbook. 6th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009:94.