In a message dated 8/25/2005 5:53:26 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:
Perhaps Nancy Wight (if she isn't tired of this topic already) can speculate 
on why this would crop 
up in such a carefully controlled study that on the fact of things, tried to 
equalize the nutrient 
content.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The study does not say anything about analyzing donor or mother's own milk 
and trying to equalize the nutrition.  I would doubt that they did it.  Although 
analyzing each mother's milk and supplementing individually with just what is 
needed, might be ideal for the baby, it is extremely labor intensive and 
expensive (the equipment to analyze just fat, protein and calories is >$100,000).  
One of the reasons we have seen an increase in the use of mother's own milk 
for preterm infants is that multi-nutrient fortifiers are EASY.  Before the 
commercial fortifiers, it was much easier to just give preterm formulas.  

Please don't respond indignantly that we SHOULD be tailoring each infant's 
milk to his/her exact needs!  We don't yet know exactly what those needs are!  
Each drug is not tailored to the individiual patient.  

As new research as to the value of human milk is coming out, there are more 
efforts to use it.  If evidence suggests that analyzing mother's milk is 
valuable and cost-effective for optimal short-term and long-term outcome, it will be 
done.  We are not there yet.

Nancy
Nancy E. Wight MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP
Neonatologist, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Children's Hospital
Medical Director, Sharp HealthCare Lactation Services
San Diego, CA
[log in to unmask]

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html