Your baby's doctor may want to use fresh milk when the baby starts to feed. Fresh milk is milk that has not been frozen, but it can be refrigerated for 24-48 hours. Ask you baby's nurse about the quidelines for your nursery. Milk from mothers who deliver early is different from milk from mothers who deliver on time. It has more protein, sodium, calcium and some other nutrients.
Some preemies grow well on their mother's milk alone.
Others, especially very small or sick preemies, cannot handle the amount of milk that it would take to get all the calories and nutrients that they need. Adding specific nutrients to the milk such as fat, protein or sugars. Mixing your milk with preemie formula. This is common if your baby needs more milk than you can currently supply. Human milk fortifiers.