I think one of the MD's would better be able to comment on this subject, but I can offer my $.02. The reason the neonatologists and dietician in our NICU uses fortifier for babies born under (I think it is 1200 gms) is not for the extra calories, particularly. It is because even though premie mother's milk tries to make up for the fact that the baby is early, and still supposed to be "hooked up" to a placenta, it doesn't quite do it long-term. The problem is the calcium and phosphorous, etc. We have had some babies develop rickets, etc., without the supplementation. They are only on the fortifier until they reach a certain post conceptual age and are gaining well. If the baby is breast feeding directly from the breast part of the time, we fortify only the gavage feedings, or use a supplementer with fortified breast milk. This is certainly preferable to using high-cal formula. Lawrence Gartner is going to be speaking in Billings, Mont on May 5, and I think this is one of the subjects he is going to cover. Hopefully, I will get to go to that conference, since I am very interested in this subject. Deanne, R.N. NICU IBCLC *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html