Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants Fed Human Milk

Physiology of milk secretion

“…Human milk is also recommended to feed preterm infants as it significantly reduces complications associated with prematurity such as necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, broncho-pulmonary dysplasia and late-onset sepsis and promotes brain development and neurocognitive outcome [96].…”

Mothers of preterm infants’ experiences of breastfeeding support in the first 12 months after birth: A qualitative study

“…Genuine support was experienced as supportive in the following situations: when the mothers received support that was individually adapted and had no demands (SK72); Mothers not born in Sweden 9 (6) Vaginal birth 81 (54) Women with multiple births 23 (15) Infant gestational age at birth, weeks 34 [2] Infant gestational age at discharge, weeks 38 [2] Length of stay for the infant, days 24 [22] Exclusive breastfeeding The staff [at the neonatal unit] prepped me to continue expressing breast milk, which was good; I believe that much support is needed at that stage, before the child learns to breastfeed, when it is hard and stressful.…”

“…1,2 The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of postnatal age and, after that, partial breastfeeding for 2 years or longer. 3 It has been suggested that even small changes in the prevalence of breastfeeding may result in significant societal health disparities for infants and mothers through changes in health, health care costs, and economic productivity.…”

Human milk: composition and health benefits

“…50,51 Long term benefits include reduced risk of re-hospitalization due to infectious diseases, particularly respiratory diseases, and promotion of both brain development and neurocognitive outcome. 52,53 Recent research has also indicated a potential cumulative effect of human milk feeding on promotion of fat free mass deposition, which, in turns, appears to promote cognitive outcome. [54][55][56] …”