Although it may seem like it’s not a big deal, two to three weeks apart at birth could make a difference. It is known, for example, that babies who are premature are more likely to have certain complications both in the short and long term.
Fortunately, science continues to advance and thanks to dozens of scientific investigations on the subject, more and more things are being discovered that can help these little warriors succeed.
A recent study, for example, has found that breast milk has a positive effect on them, helping to improve cardiovascular health in premature babies .
The study
As we know, the benefits of breast milk for babies are countless, regardless of the week in which they were born. But in the particular case of premature babies, breastfeeding would help their health in a special way .
Published in the JAMA Network Open magazine, this new research found that premature infants with increased exposure to breast milk had improved heart function at one year of age , with values approaching those of healthy, full-term infants.
According to the study, the hearts of babies born prematurely have traits that put them at higher risk for cardiovascular disorders, such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, pulmonary and systemic hypertension, as well as being more likely to die from it. of a cardiovascular disease. In general, their heart function is significantly lower than that of a full-term baby .
But according to the results of the study in which 80 premature babies participated, being exclusively breastfed with breast milk in their first months of life would help normalize these traits, improving the function and structure of their heart .
These findings were evident before the babies were discharged from the hospital where they were admitted, and persisted until one year of age, which was the duration for which they were followed.
Without a doubt, this is news that fills with hope and that shows us once again that breastfeeding is the best option for the baby, and that especially in the case of premature babies, it could be something that significantly improves their life .
Vía | Science Daily
In Babies and more | Skin-to-skin contact is key to early initiation of breastfeeding in premature babies
