Early milk feeds 'benefits premature babies'

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17769204

At-risk premature babies would benefit from being given milk feeds earlier, a study has suggested.

The University of Oxford study found babies were not at a higher risk of severe bowel problems if moved off tube-feeds early, as was feared.

Four hundred babies, born at least five weeks early and small for their age, were studied for the Pediatrics paper.

The premature baby charity Bliss said it hoped the findings would lead to a change in feeding practices.

[SheilaT]

1. It's even better if the mother

can produce breast milk for the baby.

The milk she produces if she gives birth early is uniquely structured for the early arrival. And for the entire period of time the mom nurses, her milk changes to suit the needs of the growing baby.