The Early Growth of Small Premature Infants fed their own Mothers' Milk.

Abstract

Summary: A group of 7 appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) infants, with birthweights of 1500g or less, was fed their own mothers' milk, while a control group of 7 AGA infants matched for birthweight and gestation with the subjects, was fed a modified infant formula (Nan-Nestles). The rate of weight gain, growth in length and head circumference were monitored until each infant reached a weight of 1800g. When compared with infants fed artificial formula, the infants fed their own mothers' milk took shorter time to regain birth weight and had higher rate of weight gain (p<0.05). The rate of increase in length and head circumference were appropriate and similar in both groups. The study suggests that the preterm mothers' milk produces better weight gain than the modified cow's milk formula when fed to very low birth weight infants.