OptiMoM Grows Up: 5.5-year Follow-up of the OptiMoM Fortifier Study

In Canada, the leading cause of long-term disability in children is being born at very low birth weight (VLBW). To help improve outcomes, nutrition is a modifiable aspect of infant care. Mother's milk is the optimal way to feed VLBW infants; however, many need a supplement of donor milk or preterm formula as not enough mother's milk is available. As the ideal supplement for prolonged feeding and its long-term effects is currently unknown, this study is a prospective follow-up of infants born VLBW who were fed mother's own milk or pasteurized donor breastmilk nutrient enriched with a human milk-based fortifier or a bovine protein-based fortifier. Intakes of donor milk, fortifier type, macronutrients and fatty acids will be explored. Areas of development to be assessed include: cognition, language, motor skills, and body composition. This study will also cross-sectionally examine aspects of eating behaviours, food parenting and the home environment (e.g., stress, home chaos, family functioning) with a term-born comparison. A DNA biorepository will also be created.