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This research paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of breast milk and formula milk for premature babies. Mothers of premature babies, also known as small gestational age infants (SGA), may realize that breast milk can prove more beneficial for the wellbeing of such babies. Breast milk can provide essential nutrients needed to assist the infant in their completer natural development outside their mother's womb. A research supports the notion that premature babies have more of an advantage being fed breast milk as it contains several vital components needed for their growth. Although, some may disapprove the advantages of breast milk and believe that formula is just as beneficial for premature babies, it has been found that breast milk is the most natural form of nutrition.
This paper offers valuable information contained in various credible sources to support the importance of breast milk; highlighting how it works to provide nourishment to the baby and the bond it develops between mother and child. It will also explore the difficulties and pains a mother goes through when she cannot produce the milk and its devastating effects.
In the early 1900s, when infants could not be fed by their mothers, two methods were usually adopted for substitute feedings. The most prevalent method was the employment of surrogate mothers (wet nurse) whereas the other method was to obtain milk from another mammal (primarily cows, sheep, and goats). This was considered another form of breast milk.
Unfortunately, the preemie’s digestive tract is not fully developed and feeding the immature gut can cause bloating and vomiting. In severe cases, this can also result in Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) - a devastating condition in which the intestines and digestive tract become inflamed as tissues begin to die. On the other hand, preemies receiving breast milk are less likely to experience such digestive problems.
In the article, Breastfeeding the Premature Infant: 34-37 Weeks’ Gestation, the authors argue that the first couple of weeks can be challenging for premature babies because they tend to be sleepy with minimal milk intake and both small and high-energy demands. Providing breast milk to preterm infants in the NICU can be time-consuming and challenging for mothers. In such situations, they may need to use a breast pump for weeks or months before their infant can begin feeding from the breast directly. However, when a premature baby can receive and digest breast milk, it is surely the beginning of a journey of survival.
Breast milk for small gestational age infants (SGA) can provide essential nutrients needed to help the healthy development of infants. Nutritional elements such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic and (omega-3 fatty acid) play a key role in the development of the (SGA) infant. Breast milk can also help to prevent some of the neurological and metabolic consequences of being born growth-retarded. The longer the SGA infant is given breast milk, the better their chances of living a healthier life. Although, many people believe that formula is just as beneficial for premature babies, studies strongly suggest that breast milk is the better and most natural form of nutrition.
It has been researched that SGA infants who breastfeed grow healthier than formula-fed infants as the breast milk contains more than 200 components. Colostrum - a thick, yellow constituent – is a special liquid that mothers produce when they pump in the beginning. Colostrum helps in the development of a baby’s immune system that ultimately facilitates the growth of the brain. Pregnant women have a natural system that allows them to develop milk glands as mothers. These glands are then used to produce milk connecting mothers and babies – both physically and emotionally.
In Toward Optimal Health: The Maternal Benefits of Breastfeeding, Godfrey and Lawrence argue that “breast milk doesn’t reflect the mother’s precise diet, rather, it is naturally reformulated to meet the growing needs of the infant” (1597). The disadvantages of substituting breast milk with bottle-fed formula are well documented. Recently, one notable advantage that has been recently identified is the reduced rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in breastfed babies.
At one point, it was difficult to assess the benefits of breast milk. However, the data regarding the benefits of breast milk is convincing and reassuring. In developing countries where women have a higher risk of breast cancer, it is suggested that the production and feeding of breast milk decreases the risk. Supporting research indicated in Comparing Infant Formulas with Human Milk-Infant Formula reveals that there are several unique factors in human milk that positively affect nutritional status and somatic growth. For example, some of the ingredients are amylase - an enzyme that aids in the digestion of polysaccharide; insulin - a growth factor anabolic/hormone that promotes carbohydrate, protein, and fat accretion; lactoferrin - a carrier protein that increases efficiency of iron delivery; and leukocytes - live cells that help in cytokine production by T-cells; direct in vivo roles of B-cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. Breast milk also contains uric acid which is a small molecular-weight nitrogenous compound and functions as antioxidant.
There are several others ingredients that assist in the development of the premature babies. The manufacturers often add new ingredients to the infant formula to copy the composition or performance of breast milk. Breast-milk composition varies considerably among and within individuals over time, while the content of infant formulas generally remains constant.
According to my personal observation within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – the place where premature babies are cared for and closely inspected by the on-duty nurses - babies that receive breast milk are less likely to be fussy as compared to babies that receive formula. In her article, Nourishing Your Premature Baby in the NICU, Gates describes the journey of both the preemies and their families as long and painful. The NICU’s focus is to allow the babies to learn to feed and grow on their own as “it is important to understand that preterm infants will need to grow and develop at a proportionally faster rate than term infants” (Gates). Thus, premature babies require special nutrition to support faster weight gain and growth. It needs to be noted that every NICU is different in how it chooses to fortify human milk.
Infant formula manufacturers have developed a new generation of human milk fortifiers particularly designed to meet the needs of the preemie. These fortifiers are chosen considering the additional nutrients required for promoting growth and development. However, breast milk is easier to digest. Therefore, it must be given to the baby first. Once tolerance to the breast milk is noticeable, the fortifier can be added in the diet slowly. Fortifier and calcium are absent in breast but found in infant formula.
According to Successful Breastfeeding after Discharge of Preterm and Sick Newborn Infants, Åkerström conducted a study and argued that preterm and sick newborn infants benefit from breastfeeding. Some of the new mothers have difficult time producing milk which sometimes causes depression. Breast milk contains several important ingredients that help the preterm and sick babies from infections and promotes normal growth during the first year of their life. Babies that are able to breastfeed exhibit a better cognitive function in childhood. I plan to use this source to support my argument that breastfeeding is an essential fact of helping a preemie become a healthy newborn.
The interview with authors of Toward Optimal Health: “The Maternal Benefits of Breast Feeding, Godfrey and Lawrence explore the benefits of breast milk for all infants – not just premature ones. Even among fragile premature babies, there are methods that can be effectively employed to support breastfeeding. The research shows that premature baby’s immune systems and nutritional stores are very vulnerable. It is critical that a premature baby receive the breast milk in the first several days after birth. The information from this source will be used to explain the premature baby’s immune systems and functions of the milk of mother in the evolution process.
In Early Optimal Nutrition Improves Neurodevelopmental Outcomes for Very Preterm Infants, Hsiao explains the names and purposes of all the ingredients present in the breast milk. This research study argues that despite the potential benefits, the nutrients of human milk are not sufficient to cover the needs of preterm extremely low-birth weight (PELBW) infants and ensure growth similar to that of the fetus during the last period of gestation. In preterm infants with extremely low birth weights, probiotics reduce the incidence of NEC whereas lactoferrin prevents late-onset sepsis. Early optimization of postnatal-parenteral nutrients and enteral nutrients with breast milk, probiotics, and lactoferrin is imperative to prevent these adverse neurodevelopment outcomes. This special article contains information regarding the different levels of glucose, amino acids, probiotics, lactoferrin, and lipids. This valuable information will assist me in explaining the vital nutrients that these ingredients contain.
Richman and Schub provide the statistics of the birth rate of premature babies and the risk factors in Breastfeeding the Premature Infant 24-27 Weeks’ Gestation. They not only describe the importance breastfeeding or bottle-feeding but also indicate the maternal positions including the inability to suck and swallow effectively and safely. The challenges that a mother faces with pumping milk and caring for a premature baby are also highlighted. Late preterm infants (i.e. infants born at 34-37 week gestation) are at risk of feeding appropriately and well because of their low energy storage and high energy demands. They tend to be sleepy with minimal and short and high-energy stores and high-energy demands. When babies are born prematurely, they miss the opportunity to absorb and store their nutrients. For the same reasons, the first two weeks of the premature baby’s life are often the most difficult. This source helps describing the functions demonstrated by a baby in the different gestation stages.
In conclusion, the purpose of this research paper is to explore the pros and cons of breast milk as it relates to mothers of premature babies. I believe that the provided information would assist future mothers with premature babies in making an informed decision on how to best nourish their infant.
Works Cited
Agostoni, Carlo. "Small-for-gestational-age Infants Need Dietary Quality Acta Paediatrica More than Quantity for Their Development: The Role of Human Milk." Wiley Blackwell, July 2005. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Akerstrom, S., I. Asplund, and M. Norman. "Successful Breastfeeding after Discharge of Preterm and Sick Newborn Infants."- Åkerström. Acta Paediatrica, 2007. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Gates, Amy. "Nourishing Your Premature Baby in the NICU." Hand to Hold. N.p., 2012 Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
Godfrey, Jodi R., and Ruth A. Lawrence. "Toward Optimal Health: The Maternal Benefits of Breastfeeding."Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Journal of Women’s Health, 9 Nov.2010. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.
Hsiao, Chien Chou. "Early Optimal Nutrition Improves Neurodevelopmental Outcomes For Very Preterm Infants". Wiley Blackwell, 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Richman, S., and T. Schub. "Breastfeeding the Premature Infant 34-37 Weeks' Gestation."Quick Lesson (2015): n. p. Nursing Reference Center. CINAHL Nursing Guide, EBSCO, 14 Aug. 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.
