Impact of Unfortified Human Milk Feeding on Weight Gain and Mineral Status of Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants after Discharge from a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit

Abstract

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) and human milk feeding have significantly improved the neonatal survival of very- low-birth-weight infants in developing countries (Lincetto et al. 2000). These infants are discharged at low weights (1,800 g) and receiving only human milk, a multivitamin, and iron syrup. There is concern regarding the long-term effects of feeding these infants unfortified human milk. We hypothesized that the low caloric and low phosphorous content of human milk will result in hypophosphatemia and poor weight gain after discharge. The aim of our study was to determine the milk feeding pattern, weight gain, and calcium and phosphorous levels at 6 and 12 weeks corrected age of infants with birth weights > 1,600 g who received intermittent KMC and whose mothers actively were encouraged to breastfeed during the hospitalization period.