Middleton, PhillipaKeir, AmyCollins, CarmelGomersall, JudithHilditch, Catherine Elizabeth2024-01-022024-01-022023https://hdl.handle.net/2440/140288The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for all infants from birth to six months of age1. Breastfed infants are less susceptible to inflammatory disorders2 and infection3. The nutritional requirements of preterm infants are higher than those of term infants4,5, and the recommended source of nutrition for premature infants is human milk fortified with added nutrients1,4. Additional benefits for preterm infants6 include promoting intestinal maturation, improved feed tolerance, reduced time to reach full enteral feeds and improved growth rates7,8. Sustained breastmilk feeding has also been shown to reduce the rates and severity of complications of prematurity9-11, including sepsis3, necrotising enterocolitis12,13, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia14. Despite these well described advantages, breastmilk alone provides insufficient quantities of protein, sodium, phosphate, and calcium required to meet the nutritional needs of a preterm infant15. Studies suggest premature infants fed only human milk have lower growth rates than infants fed preterm infant formula or fortified human milk5,15,16. Commercially produced human milk fortifiers are recommended to supplement breast milk with additional nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.enBreastfeedingbreastmilk feedingpreterm infantsneonatal intensive care unitsbreastmilk fortificationThesis