The preterm infant: breast or bottle?
The long term survival of preterm infants has greatly improved in the last decade. Clinicians have consequently been able to concentrate more on their optimal nutrition and this has led to a controversy regarding the best milk for these infants. Current theory and practice suggests that the fastest growth and the best energy retention is obtained if a highly modified preterm formula milk is used. Banked mature human breast milk appears nutritionally inadequate and has no proven advantages. The use of fresh mothers' own milk merits further investigation, although its widespread use will usually be impractical.
Herber
S M
SM
Department of Paediatrics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield Children's Hospital S10 2TH UK.
Milner
R D
RD