Breast milk and breast feeding in very low birthweight infants.

The feeding of 17 babies weighing less than 1500 g was examined retrospectively. 12 babies started breast feeding at a mean weight of 1324 g and 10 of them were fully breast fed by a mean weight of 1600 g. Their weight gains were comparable with bottle-fed babies receiving expressed breast milk. Practical aspects of breast feeding were considered to be: a knowledgeable maternal and nursing attitude, close mother and baby contact, early expression of breast milk, and early suckling. The increased incidence of breast feeding by mothers of both low birthweight and term babies ensures regular supplies of fresh breast milk. Therefore, sterilisation or storage of breast milk there is unnecessary.