(NewsUSA) - Premature babies face unique challenges from the moment they arrive. Born weeks or months before their bodies are fully developed, these fragile infants need every advantage to grow strong and healthy. The good news? Research shows that the right nutrition can help improve both their immediate health and their development years down the road.

Helping Preemies Grow Strong

Extremely premature babies need significantly more calories, protein, and nutrients than full-term babies to catch up on the growth they missed in the womb. This is why doctors often add something called a nutritional "fortifier" to mom's breastmilk or donor milk for the smallest preemies. These fortifiers provide the extra nutrition necessary for healthy growth and development.

There are two types of fortifiers available in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU): one made from cow milk, and one made from donor breastmilk. In the U.S., both are labeled "human milk fortifiers," which can be confusing for parents. However, only those from Prolacta Bioscience are 100% donor breastmilk-based, free from cow milk and corn syrup ingredients. For extremely premature infants — those born weighing 2.75 pounds or less — this difference can be life-changing.

Nutrition Choices That Last a Lifetime

What preemies are fed in the NICU doesn't just matter today; it impacts tomorrow's developmental milestones. A recent study followed more than 1,000 premature babies from birth through age 3 to see how their early nutrition affected their development. The results were striking: babies fed an Exclusive Human Milk Diet (EHMD) including breastmilk and Prolacta’s human milk-based fortifiers were significantly less likely to have motor skill delays at age 3 compared to those fed a non-EHMD. These motor skills help toddlers walk, run, climb, and explore their world, along with other children their same age.

The positive health outcomes go beyond motor skills. Earlier research showed that an exclusive human milk diet also leads to significantly higher cognitive scores (thinking, learning, attention) at 18-22 months. Together, these studies reveal that the feeding choices parents and care teams make in the NICU can shape a child's development for years to come.

Not All Human Milk Processing Methods Are Equal

Breastmilk contains hundreds of bioactive compounds that work together to protect and nourish premature babies in ways that other feeding options cannot. Prolacta's unique human milk processing methods are specifically designed to help maintain the natural benefits in mom’s milk, including important fats that support brain development. Other human milk processing methods, such as homogenization, alter the human milk fat globule and are known to destroy milk fat components that premature infants may need for brain development.

Timing matters, too. In the critical early weeks, a premature baby's brain and organs are developing rapidly. Early fortification with the right nutrition supports this critical growth when babies need it most.

Advocating for Your Baby

In 2025, more than half of the Level 3 and 4 NICUs in the U.S. used 100% breastmilk-based fortifiers for their smallest patients. If your baby is in a NICU, you have a voice in their care. Talk to your care team about the best nutritional options for your child. You can ask for Prolacta nutritional products by name, and your hospital can order them without a contract, often for overnight delivery, even for one baby.

Knowing your options helps ensure your baby gets the nutrition they need for better health today and long after the NICU. Don't be afraid to ask questions and advocate for the nutrition that gives your baby the best chance to thrive.