Welcoming a new baby to the world is one of the most exciting parts of life.

But for parents of premature infants, it can also be a frightening time. When Kolton was born at just 22 weeks and three days, doctors worried he wouldn't survive the first 24 hours of his life. He miraculously did, but Kolton's fight was far from over.

Preterm babies need extra help to grow healthy and strong — and good nutrition is an essential part of that process. Like many babies born early, Kolton was too small to consume more than a few milliliters of milk at once. While breast milk is best for preterm babies, neonatologists may add supplemental nutrition to breast milk¹. To support Kolton’s advanced nutrition needs, his healthcare team turned to a Similac^® product.

When added to human milk, Similac^® Human Milk Fortifier delivers extra essential nutrients to a preterm baby’s feedings.  This fortifier can be mixed into breast milk without interfering with the nutrients that are already present, ensuring that premature babies get the increased nutrition they need to support growth.

This innovative nutrition product is used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and helped nourish Kolton as an infant. Now, he's a thriving six-year-old who plays baseball and helps around the farm. 

Watch Kolton's story and learn more about how Abbott is helping premature babies get a strong start in life.

References

¹ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Providing-Breastmilk-for-Premature-and-Ill-Newborns.aspx