As premature babies are born early, they are born with insufficient nutritional reserves and need more nutrients for rapid growth after birth. On the other hand, their gastrointestinal tract is not yet developed and their digestion and absorption ability is poor, so babies born prematurely need special treatment.
So what kind of milk can they eat to meet their needs?
Premature babies are best served with breast milk during hospitalization because the composition of premature breast milk is different from full-term breast milk, which facilitates digestion and absorption, promotes maturation of gastrointestinal function, improves immunity and helps the development of the nervous system. Direct breastfeeding can enhance the emotional communication between mother and child and is beneficial to the physical and mental health of the baby.
However, for premature babies with small gestational age and low birth weight, the nutrients consumed by exclusive breastfeeding cannot meet the needs, so breast milk fortification is often used to ensure their rapid growth. Breast milk fortification contains proteins, minerals and vitamins, which are added to breast milk in a certain ratio and fed to the baby (never directly in water or added to formula). Breast milk fortification can be added during the hospitalization of preterm babies, once they have been exclusively breastfed.
Why do preterm babies need breastfeeding extraordinarily?
The value of breast milk is not only the nutritional value but also the biological function, especially for preterm babies. This is why some people call breast milk the source of life for preterm babies.
The special nutritional value of premature breast milk
1, high protein content: high percentage of whey protein, which facilitates the rapid growth of preterm babies.
2.Low fat and lactose content, easy to digest and absorb.
3, the appropriate ratio of calcium and phosphorus to promote bone development.
The special biological value of premature breast milk
Breastmilk is a facilitating factor for the maturation of gastrointestinal function in preterm infants, especially in the colostrum stage, where the postpartum mammary epithelial cell bypass opens, allowing the secretion of macromolecular antibodies, anti-inflammatory factors, growth factors and other protective components, through the mammary epithelium to form colostrum. The composition of colostrum is similar to the amino acid composition of the amniotic fluid swallowed by the fetus in utero during the second trimester, and contains high amounts of growth factors that promote maturation of the intestinal mucosa.
Many factors accompanying premature birth such as cesarean section, use of antibiotics, and delayed start of breastfeeding are the causes of intestinal flora imbalance. Breast milk contains probiotics and prebiotics that promote the normal colonization of intestinal flora, and also contains many bioactive components, which together with probiotics and prebiotics are the basis of healthy intestinal development in preterm infants.
Lactoferrin, lysozyme, immunoglobulins, phagocytes and interferon in preterm breast milk help protect babies against serious infections including sepsis and meningitis, which is very beneficial for this high-risk group of preterm infants.
Premature breast milk is rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as DHA) and taurine, 1.5 to 2 times more than mature breast milk, which promotes the maturation of the retina and central nervous system of preterm infants and facilitates the development of intelligence.
Current evidence suggests that the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the lower the chance of developing adult chronic diseases (obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease) in the future.
The WHO guidelines for feeding low birth weight infants (2011) strongly recommend that low birth weight infants, including very low birth weight infants, should be breastfed. Low birth weight infants who cannot be breastfed, including very low birth weight infants, should preferably be fed with donated human milk. Low birth weight infants who are able to breastfeed directly should be exposed to the mother’s breast for suckling as soon as they are clinically stable.
How to ensure successful breastfeeding for preterm mothers?
1. The mother expresses her milk as soon as possible within 6 hours after delivery.
2. Express milk 8-10 times a day for 10-15 minutes each time.
Key timing of breastfeeding for preterm babies.
1.One week after birth: colostrum feeding stage.
2.One month after birth: transition stage from colostrum to mature milk.