Frequently Asked Questions

That is okay. If you do not have enough freshly pumped milk for your baby, we will check our freezers to see if we have any of your frozen milk available. If not, we will supplement your milk with pasteurized human donor milk (or “donor milk”) to make sure your baby has enough milk for the 24 hours. You can read more about donor milk use in our NICU. We will always prioritize the use of your breast milk.
That is okay. If you decide to stop pumping during your baby’s study participation, we will use donor milk. Your baby will receive donor milk for the rest of the study diet, which lasts until baby reaches 36 weeks’ post-menstrual age. Post-menstrual age is baby’s gestational age at birth, plus the number of days since birth.
Mother’s own milk is the preferred feeding for preterm babies. However, because preterm babies have higher nutrient needs than those born at term, they have liquid human milk fortifier (“HMF”) and liquid protein added to their milk. This is called “fortification.” HMF adds calories and nutrients, including protein, vitamins and minerals, to your milk to meet the special needs of preterm infants. Extra protein is also added to meet the unique protein needs of preterm babies. If your baby needs extra calories or is in the intervention arm of the study, he/she may also have MCT Oil added to the milk. MCT oil is an easy to digest oil added to a preterm baby’s diet to help increase the fat and calories baby is receiving.
Babies in the study receive the same fortification that they would otherwise have added to their milk if they were not in the study. The only difference is if your baby is in the intervention group. If that is the case, your baby may have extra fortification added to his/her milk on days when it is needed. Babies who are not in the study do not get body fat measurements. However, most babies in the NICU who are eligible for this study would still get a brain MRI before going home, even if they are not enrolled in the Nourish Study.
Yes. The risk of a brain MRI is minimal. An MRI does not have radiation. Instead, it uses magnets to view your baby’s brain. Baby is fed and swaddled before the MRI to help him/her fall asleep. Many babies sleep through the whole scan, but it is possible that your baby may wake up and start to cry. If that happens, we will stop the scan and soothe your baby. Your baby will be monitored by a nurse the entire time. In our NICU, it is common for preterm infants to receive a brain MRI as part of their clinical care. Click here to read our MRI brochure –  English | Español
Yes. The PEA POD is like a small isolette with warm air swishing around inside it. Your baby will be monitored by a nurse the entire time, which takes less than 5 minutes. We will only measure your baby with a PEA POD when he/she is stable and can breathe on room air. Click here to read our brochure – English | Español.
A baby in the PEA POD
Our research nurse with a baby
Yes. The BIS is a small device that has electrodes placed on your baby’s hand and foot. These electrodes are similar to the ones already on your baby’s chest. They run a weak, painless current through baby’s body. This takes less than 5 minutes and will take place in your baby’s room.
When the study diet ends, your baby will go back to the normal NICU diet. At this time, your baby’s nurse will be in charge of adding the regular fortifier to your baby’s milk. You will still see our study team because we will coordinate your baby’s MRI and last PEA POD. We will also sit down with you to complete some questionnaires before you go home. We would like to check in with you at 4 and 12 months after baby’s original due date to ask you some questions. We will also see you in the Follow Up Clinic 2 years after baby’s original due date.
You have the right to stop participating at any point during the study. If you decide you no longer wish to participate, your baby’s care will not change. Your baby’s nurses will prepare your baby’s milk as they would for all other babies not in the study.
It is okay if you decide that transferring to another hospital is best for you and your baby. Because this study is only at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, your baby cannot participate while at another hospital. If you decide to transfer, you will be removed from the study and your baby’s diet will return to the standard NICU diet.
No, Nourish has completed its in-NICU recruitment and will now focus on seeing enrolled participants in the CCD follow-up clinic!