Work package 2.3

Hypothesis: Feeding minimal enteral milk diets improves immunity and organ maturation

Minimal feeding with formula, colostrum or human milk to newborns

The first milk after birth promotes intestinal growth, bacterial colonization and immune maturation but may also create harmful inflammatory lesions, especially using excessive feeding volumes and suboptimal diets in weak newborns (1,30). As support for later infant studies, we define the time, type and volume of milk to promote optimal immunity and maturation.

Methods

Preterm pigs are fed graded MEN doses of formula, bovine colostrum, human milk or amniotic fluid before transition to full enteral formula feeding, follow-up until 2 weeks.