Fortification of Breast Milk for Preterm Infants

Why Does My Preterm Baby’s Breastmilk Need Fortification?

If your baby was born prematurely, you may have heard that their breastmilk will be fortified — that extra nutrients are added before it’s given to your baby. Many parents are surprised by this and wonder, “Isn’t breastmilk enough?”It’s a great question — and the answer comes down to what makes preterm babies’ nutritional needs unique.

Breastmilk Is the Best Start

Breastmilk is an incredible, living substance — full of immune protection, enzymes, growth factors, and nutrients specially designed for your baby. For preterm babies, it’s especially important: it helps protect against infections, supports gut health, and lowers the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

But while breastmilk is perfect for term babies, babies born early have different nutritional needs — and that’s where fortification comes in.

Preterm Babies Need More to Grow

Babies do a tremendous amount of growing during the last trimester of pregnancy. During those weeks, they accumulate stores of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals — the building blocks for strong bones, healthy organs, and brain development.When a baby is born early, they miss out on that time inside the womb and need to “catch up” outside. Even though breastmilk is the ideal foundation, it doesn’t contain quite enough of certain nutrients to meet the rapid growth needs of preterm infants.

What Fortification Does

Fortifiers — usually made from human milk or a special preterm formula — add key nutrients such as:

• Protein for growth and muscle development

• Calcium and phosphorus for bone strength

• Additional calories to support catch-up growth

• Other vitamins and minerals essential for development

These additions help your baby grow at a rate similar to what they would have achieved before birth — safely and steadily.

It’s important to remember that fortification doesn’t take away from the power of your milk. Your baby is still receiving all the immune and developmental benefits of your breastmilk — the fortifier simply adds what nature planned for those last few weeks in the womb.

In short: fortifying breastmilk isn’t a sign that your milk isn’t good enough — it’s a way to supercharge it for your preterm baby’s special needs. Your milk provides the foundation, and fortification fills in the extra nutrients needed for healthy growth and development. Together, they give your baby the best possible start.