BREAST MILK FORTIFIER, powder, 1g, sachet

Breast Milk Fortifiers (BFM) (also known as Human Milk Fortifiers) are designed to be added to breast milk. Breast-milk fortification provides the necessary nutrients and promotes rapid growth rate and bone mineralisation in low-birth-weight and premature neonates.

Breast milk is the ideal food for neonates. However, while its nutrient composition is ideal for full-term infants, it may lack sufficient proteins and minerals for low-birth-weight neonates, whose protein and mineral requirements are higher for growth.

BMF should be added to the meals of neonates who meet all of the following criteria:

• birth weight is < 2000 g, AND
• at least one week old, AND
• receiving fluid requirements by enteral route, and at least partially by another method (cup/spoon feeding, double-channel gastric tube...), AND,
• taking less than 15 g/kg/day for 3 consecutive days despite adequate breastfeeding.

When quantities of breast milk are insufficient, the priority should be to increase breast milk production.

Example: Nutrilon

Instructions for fortification of expressed breast milk

• Always follow the instructions provided on the product packaging.
• Check the amount of breast milk required, and assist the mother in expressing the required amount.
• Fortification must be introduced gradually:
• Once the neonate reaches and tolerates 80 to 100 ml / kg / day of expressed breast milk, begin fortification with a 2% fortifier at each feed.
• If well tolerated after 48 hours, increase to a 4% fortifier at each feed.
• Gradually increase the quantity of 4% fortified milk according to the infant's tolerance, up to 160-180 ml/kg/day
• Refer to the table bellow to determine the amount of BMF to add to the expressed milk accordingly.

* if more than 175 ml, add the fortification accordingly.