A fortifier comprising protein, vitamins, and calcium-glycerophosphate for preterm human milk.

BACKGROUND: The infant's own mother's milk, fortified with proteins, minerals, and vitamins, is considered the best food for low-birth-weight infants. This paper describes the process to obtain a liquid human milk fortifier. METHODS: The fortifier comprises a protein concentrate, calcium, phosphate, and zinc salts, as well as vitamins A and D. A powdered whey protein extracted from bovine milk was concentrated from 31.5-76.8 g/100 g using repetitive dialysis. The protein concentrate was dissolved in a 0.2 M phosphate buffer pH 7.4 and mixed with calcium-glycerophosphate and calcium-gluconate, vitamins A and D, folic acid, and zinc. Each 10 mL of this liquid fortifier has 0.78 g protein, 53 mg calcium, 36 mg phosphate, and 0.93 mg zinc. RESULTS: Repetitive dialysis did not modify the protein structure as demonstrated by electrophoresis. A total of 95% of lactose content was discarded. Enriching human milk using this human milk fortifier increased the concentration per deciliter of all added nutrients; proteins increased from 1.68-2.35 g, calcium from 26-90 mg, and phosphorus, from 15-51 mg. CONCLUSIONS: A liquid human milk fortifier was successfully manufactured using a noncomplex procedure. An intake of 180-200 mL/kg/day of the fortified human milk by the premature infant would satisfy the infant's nutritional requirements and achieve expected growth and development.

[Mother-infant rooming-in and beginning of breast feeding in a tertiary care hospital]. / Alojamiento conjunto madre-hijo e inicio de amamantamiento, en un hospital de tercer nivel de atención.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a mother-baby's rooming-in program (RI) in a hospital that provides a tertiary level of care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Babies born to healthy mothers were included, both delivered vaginally (P) and by cesarean section (C). Information was gathered on the cause for RI suspension, the type of infant's feeding and the mother's opinion about the program. RESULTS: Sixty-eight per cent of P infants and 98% of C infants participated in the program. The time from delivery to RI was uncovered; for P babies it was 5.8 hours and for C babies it was 17 hours. The RI was suspended in 1% of P and 6.7% of C infants, but with no justifiable medical reason in the infants. The mother's opinion about RI was very favorable. Only 50% of the infants started breast feeding within the first 6 hours after birth; however, all of them were breastfed at the time of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to establish RI and initiate breast feeding in a tertiary care hospital, even in mothers with cesarean section.

PIP: The objective of this study was to establish a mother-baby rooming-in program (RI) in a hospital that provides a tertiary level of care. Babies born to healthy mothers were included, both delivered vaginally (P) and by cesarean section (C). Information was gathered on the cause for RI suspension, the type of infant feeding, and the mother's opinion about the program. 68% of P infants and 98% of C infants participated in the program. The time from delivery to RI was determined; for P babies it was 5.8 hours and for C babies it was 17 hours. The RI was suspended in 1% of P and 6.7% of C infants, but with no justifiable medical reason. The mothers' opinion about RI was very favorable. Only 50% of the infants started breast feeding within the first 6 hours after birth; however, all of them were breast feeding at the time of discharge. The authors conclude that it is possible to establish RI and initiate breast feeding in a tertiary care hospital, even in mothers who had a cesarean section.