Originally published January 2 2006
New research will prove beneficial to the health of premature infants
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Action Medical Research is funding a new national study that will hopefully determine when it is safe to begin feeding milk to premature babies, whose underdeveloped digestive systems often cause problems in their first few weeks.
Action Medical Research is giving new hope to the parents of up to 2,000 very high-risk babies each year - those that have had to be delivered too early and are very small.
Pregnancy complications Pregnancy complications sometimes cause babies to suffer from a condition known as 'intra-uterine growth restriction' - which means that they have not grown as expected.
For some premature babies, their digestive system is so immature that it has not had the chance to develop fully.
This condition can put both mother and baby at risk and, if a special ultrasound technique shows problems with the baby's blood flow, sometimes the only answer is to deliver the baby early.
Immature digestive system It is vital that these tiny babies have the right nutrition to grow but for some their digestive system is so immature that it has not had the chance to develop fully.
In these cases milk can actually irritate their intestines causing a potentially fatal inflammatory condition called necrotising enterocolitis and milk feeds have to be delayed.
Protecting these babies from necrotising enterocolitis will save them from having to undergo major surgery within the first few days or weeks of life.
Cameron's story Claire Shearer holding baby Cameron Claire Shearer from Paisley near Glasgow, whose baby Cameron died at just five months old said, "When Cameron was three weeks old the doctors discovered that he had necrotising enterocolitis.
Basically their systems are so immature that their feeds cause an infection, which then eats away at the bowel."
At only five weeks old and weighing just 2lb 4oz Cameron underwent major surgery to remove a section of his bowel.
Sadly, despite overcoming the odds to beat necrotising enterocolitis.
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