vitamin supplements in EBM for preemies

[~bookcase~]

Anyone got any studies to help me get out of giving my babies added vitamins?!

I know they are prem. and have different needs to a full term baby, but preemie mama milk is different accordingly.

I don't want anything else stuffed into them that isn't 100% necessary. I just need some evidence that it shouldn't be routine to give supplements!!!
Almost everyday it's like here we go again; something new to deal with. Vitamins might seem minor compared to some of the stuff, it is minor comparatively, but it's a huge deal too. These choices just shouldn't be taken out of our hands.

Thanks
xx

[BugMacGee]

Our hospital was undergoing a study on preemie mom EBM when I left a year ago.

They do it based on preemie nutrition panels. Labs they draw usually once a week. Then adjust supplements accordingly.

I'm sure you could refuse, but stuff like Vit D is pretty important for bone growth.

[~bookcase~]

Found something in the b'feeding answer book (LLL) it states that bone density at age 5 and then 9 is greater in b'milk fed preemie babies who were fed solely breastmilk. The longer the feeding went on for, the greater the bone density, and it was greater density in those preemies than in full term b'fed babies.

I do get that iron stores will be low too, but again, longterm b'fed babies tend to have higher iron levels. I'm fine supplementing with something like floradix, I just don't trust the absorbability and harmlessness of hospital 'synthetic' mixes.

Also found this googling, but can't put it into context as I'm not qualified in the jargon:

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18727077

[irangel]

Originally Posted by shukr

Found something in the b'feeding answer book (LLL) it states that bone density at age 5 and then 9 is greater in b'milk fed preemie babies who were fed solely breastmilk. The longer the feeding went on for, the greater the bone density, and it was greater density in those preemies than in full term b'fed babies.

I do get that iron stores will be low too, but again, longterm b'fed babies tend to have higher iron levels. I'm fine supplementing with something like floradix, I just don't trust the absorbability and harmlessness of hospital 'synthetic' mixes.

Also found this googling, but can't put it into context as I'm not qualified in the jargon:

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18727077

I would question what gestation the sample group was born at. Preemies born around the time of viability and to some extent those born before 30wks and occasionally even after 30wks are at a very high risk of osteopenia of prematurity due to the lasix they require for their lung disease and the fact that this depletes their body of minerals. I can understand that preemies post 30wks may not need any supplimentation of vitamins and may be better without additional vitamins, however having a baby who suffered through multiple bone fractures due to what has now become rickets, I would not hesitate to suppliment with vitamins and minerals and wish that such steps had been taken sooner.

It's also documented that those preemies who do receive an additional small amount of preemie formula (with higher mineral content) in addition to breastmilk had better bone growth and were taller than their exclusively fed breastmilk counterparts later down the road.

[sunflowers]

I did not give my dd vitamins with any regularity and she did suffer from anemia. Her iron was really very low at 9mos old... so low that they admitted her to the hospital to rule out any internal bleeding!

So while I agree that the standard poly-vi-sol may be overkill in some cases, I would always recommend that they take the one that had Vit D, E & C and add iron at 6mos or earlier. If nothing else, Use Floradix a few times per week... But that's from my personal experience.

Preemies that were born earlier &/or had other complications have different needs than those born closer to term.

And as far as the preemie mama milk... the composition is different in the first few months, but by the time the baby is close to term, it becomes closer to the milk of a term baby. Of course that is very natural and in many caese it's perfect but for some babies, it just isn't enough.

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by irangel

It's also documented that those preemies who do receive an additional small amount of preemie formula (with higher mineral content) in addition to breastmilk had better bone growth and were taller than their exclusively fed breastmilk counterparts later down the road.

Thus explains my dd Maggie being refered to as tall as well as several preemie graduates I know who are much older, some in High school now.
She got some of that formula for a while. But was also breastfed for a year.

FWIW, Maggie was almost 25 weeks (24w, 6 days, 18 hours but they say she is a 24 weeker) and I pumped within an hour of birth. I then got my milk in within 36 hours. Compared to my FT nursing experience, this milk had a smell of iron, a very strong smell. Its color was also different. I remember reading that micro preemie mothers milk also has a high content of omega3s. It was as my body knew she was supposed to cook longer, but made up in the Breastmilk.


I would do the supplements for a micro preemie for all mentioned above and keep giving them long after the edd. For an older preemie, it depends on the situation.

[yogafeet]

I researched this thoroughly when my girls came home and Poly Vi Sol for preemies is a very good idea. I didn't give them any formula but was advised to by the NICU.