Breastfeeding the premature infant.

Breastfeeding the premature infant is both possible and desirable. Premature infants derive benefits from breast milk that they can not receive from formula. Nutritional issues look at the components of breast milk as they relate to brain growth and development and disease protection in the acute setting and later in childhood. Recommendations for clinical practice are provided, as are information on expressing and collecting milk, breastfeeding readiness, putting the infant to breast, and discharge planning.