Study of the Relationship Between Feeding and Late Onset Sepsis and/or Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Low Birth Weight Infants

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the incidence of late onset sepsis and/or necrotizing enterocolitis and duration of hospitalization in low birth weight infants fed with fortified mother's milk supplemented with either fortified pasteurized donor human milk or preterm formula, and with fortified mother's milk versus preterm formula. II. Determine the relationship between functional antibody titers in serial milk samples and the incidence of pathogen specific late onset sepsis (e.g., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus) in these patients. III. Determine the long term sequelae (growth, body composition, health, and neurodevelopment) of human milk versus formula feeding in these patients. IV. Determine the relationship between stress and milk production in the mothers of these patients.