Special feeding program for premature babies
Feeding is often a big problem for parents of little angels who come to earth early. These premature babies are much thinner and less well developed than their full-term counterparts. How can they get stronger as soon as possible and catch up with their full-term babies?
Give preterm babies the best food
Compared to full-term babies, it is important to provide preterm babies with more nutrients to meet their body’s needs to catch up with growth, and the younger the gestational age and the lighter the baby, the more calories and nutrients they need, so it is important to choose the right foods for them.
Breastmilk
Although the calorie content of premature mother’s breast milk and full-term breast milk is comparable, 67 kcal/100ml, the nutrients are different: higher protein content, suitable for preterm babies’ rapid growth needs; high whey protein ratio, good for digestion and accelerated gastric emptying; lower amount of fat and lactose, easy to digest and absorb; higher sodium content, good for replenishing the sodium lost by preterm babies’ bodies; calcium and phosphorus in it, easy to absorb, good for bone development; and the calcium and phosphorus in it. It is easy to absorb, which is good for bone development; rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as DHA) and taurine, which is 1.5 to 2 times more than full-term breast milk, and these nutrients can promote the development of the retina and central nervous system of preterm babies.
Breast milk fortification
For preterm babies with small gestational age and low birth weight, the protein, minerals and other nutrients provided by breast milk are not enough to meet their growth needs, therefore, it is necessary to use humanmilkfortifier (HMF) in combination.
Breast milk fortifier contains protein, minerals and vitamins, which are added to breast milk in a certain ratio and fed to babies, not directly in water or added to formula. Breast milk fortification can be added when premature babies can be fed with exclusive breast milk. Generally fortified breastmilk prepared according to the standard can make 80 to 85 kcal/100ml of calories.
Premature baby formula
This formula is designed for premature babies during hospitalization: it contains 80 kcal/100ml of calories; high protein content; whey protein to casein ratio is 60:40 or 70:30, which can supply sufficient amount of cystine; 40% of medium chain fatty acids in fat, which is easy to digest and absorb; high linoleic acid content, which is good for promoting the growth and development of brain cells; 40% of carbohydrates Lactose, 60% polydextrose, which does not increase the blood osmotic pressure while supplying calories to babies; increased sodium content to ensure that the baby’s kidney sodium excretion increases; calcium content is three times the normal breast milk content, making calcium:phosphorus close to 2:1; and fortified with vitamins and trace elements.
Breastmilk is always the first choice
Although premature formula has many advantages of breast milk, such as easy digestion and absorption of nutrients such as protein, sugar and fat, while appropriately increasing calories and fortifying a variety of vitamins and minerals, it lacks many of the growth factors, enzymes and IgA found in breast milk. Both in terms of nutritional value and biological function, breast milk should be the first choice for feeding premature babies.
Post-discharge formula for preterm babies
This is specifically for use with preterm babies in the post-discharge transition period. It is intermediate in caloric and nutritional content between preterm formula and infant formula, containing 73 kcal/100 ml. Premature babies on this formula will grow faster and develop stronger bones than if they were on regular infant formula to catch up.
Premature baby formula and post-discharge formula for preterm babies should not be used for an excessive length of time, as this can lead to adverse consequences such as overweight, obesity and other nutritional imbalances in the baby. When the catch-up growth of preterm babies reaches a point where they can be fed infant formula, it is time to switch to infant formula.
Infant formula
This is a formula designed for the average full-term baby and contains 67 kcal/100 ml of calories. Premature babies who are older, with a birth weight of more than 2 kg, without serious complications or high risk factors for malnutrition, can be fed directly with infant formula if the mother does not have enough breast milk.
Different situations, different feeding suggestions
1.Breastfeeding: Premature babies with birth weight over 2000 grams and no malnutrition high-risk factors should be preferred to breastfeed after discharge. As with feeding full-term babies, follow the principle of breastfeeding on demand, and pay attention to a balanced diet for the mother.
2.Breast milk + breast milk fortification feeding: very (super) low birth weight (less than 1500 grams), especially babies with unsatisfactory nutritional status evaluated before discharge, need to be fortified with breast milk feeding until the gestational age reaches 40 weeks.
3, preterm formula feeding: suitable for artificial feeding of very (ultra) low birth weight babies, need to feed until the gestational age of 40 weeks. Breastfed babies who are not satisfied with their weight gain can be mixed fed, with preterm formula as a supplement to breast milk.
4.Formula feeding for preterm babies after discharge from hospital: It is suitable for premature babies who are fed artificially or as a supplement to breast milk.
5.Infant formula feeding: suitable for artificially fed premature babies with birth weight greater than 2000 grams and satisfactory weight gain after discharge, or as a supplement to breast milk.
How to feed premature babies?
Because preterm babies have weak sucking power, swallowing and breathing movements are not coordinated enough, so special care is needed when feeding.
Breastfed babies
It is normal for a baby to need to stop after a while to rest because it takes more effort to suck directly on the mother’s nipple. If the mother has a lot of milk and the flow is fast, it often causes the baby to choke. In this case, the mother can press her finger around the areola to slow down the flow of milk.
Since the composition of the foremilk and hindmilk is different, with more protein in the foremilk and more fat in the hindmilk, the baby should be allowed to empty one breast before eating the other.
Babies fed artificially and with breast milk + breast milk fortification
A pacifier with a hole that is too large will choke the baby, while one that is too small will cause a struggle to eat, so the mother can observe her baby as she eats and choose the right pacifier. After the formula is brewed, do not leave it at room temperature for too long to prevent spoilage. If your baby can’t finish it all at once, you need to keep it in the refrigerator. Bottles, pacifiers and other utensils should be strictly cleaned and disinfected daily because premature babies are more prone to intestinal infections than full-term babies.