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Parent having skin to skin contact with a preterm baby

Preterm studies

Peruse our library of evidence-based information on preterm topics, such as: recognising and addressing the nutritional challenges of a preterm infant, skin to skin contact, how partially hydrolysed protein improves tolerance in feeding, the iron requirements of the preterm infant, when to start weaning, and feeding the preterm baby.

Around 8% of UK babies are born prematurely and could experience challenges such as developmental delays, growth failure, issues with their gastrointestinal (GI) tract, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), low levels of important nutrients and other medical complications1,2. Find out more about the nutritional challenges a preterm infant can face here.

Learn about what skin to skin contact (SSC) is and why it matters. For preterm infants, positive human touch is not always what they experience due to the medical intervention they require, yet we know that touch is often essential for a new-born's survival.

Breast milk contains partially hydrolysed proteins for easier digestion and absorption3,4.

Partially hydrolysed formulas have been shown to have a gastric emptying time closer to that of breast milk and faster than whole protein formulas, allowing for accelerated feeding advancement5-8. Discover more about the ease of digestion due to partially hydrolysed protein.

The third trimester of pregnancy is a period of rapid foetal iron accumulation. Preterm infants miss out on this time in utero and therefore have lower iron stores than term infants, increasing their risk of iron deficiency.9 Read about the iron requirements of preterm infants.

Learn all about feeding the preterm baby in these insightful resources, which also discuss how then to wean premature babies.

Mother holding preterm baby

Effects of a liquid supplement containing 2 Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs*) in preterm infants

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Adult hands supporting baby feet

Meeting the nutritional needs of preterm infants - Clinical paper summary

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References
  1. Births - NHS England Digital (Accessed Sept 2025).
  2. Beyond survival: the lasting effects of premature birth - PMC (Accessed Sept 2025).
  3. Dallas D et al. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 2015;20(0):133–147.
  4. Martin CR et al. Nutrients 2016; 8(5): 279.
  5. Mihatsch et al. Acta Paediatr. 2001;90:196-8.
  6. Mihatsch et al. Pediatrics 2002;110(6): 1199-1203
  7. Picaud JC. et al. Journal of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2001; 32:555-561.
  8. Billeaud C et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 1990; 44: 577–583.
  9. Lapillonne A et al. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2019;69(2):259-270.
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