These findings demonstrate a protective effect of human milk feedings against infection and
sepsis / meningitis for VLBW infants
during NICU
hospitalization and further underscore the potential immunologic benefit of providing maternally expressed human milk to hospitalized VLBW infants.
Risk factors significantly associated with death prior to suture removal included clinical signs of bloating for greater than 6 hours before seeing the vet, partial stomach removal combined with spleen removal, need for blood transfusion, low blood pressure at any time
during hospitalization,
sepsis (blood infection, and peritonitis (infection of the abdominal membranes).