A new study says premature infants could avoid a NEC diagnosis if they received donor breast milk rather than being fed cow milk-based products like Similac and Enfamil. While Similac and Enfamil have been marketed for premature infants, research has suggested that the cow milk products dramatically increase the probability of a NEC diagnosis. As a result, health experts are increasingly recommending breast milk – donor breast milk if the mother’s own milk is not sufficient – instead of baby formula whenever possible.
In the study, researchers reviewed 304 underweight premature infants whose mothers were unable to provide adequate breast milk. Half the infants were fed formula, while the other half received breast milk from donors. All infants were treated in the NICU and were monitored for growth patterns, feeding tolerance, and NEC risk. Both groups were observed to have similar weight gain and head growth, however, the babies being fed donor breast milk were more tolerant of feedings, had a lower risk of developing NEC or sepsis infections, and were released from the hospital sooner.
NEC Lawsuits Being Filed
Baby formula makers Abbott and Mead Johnson currently face a rising number of lawsuits alleging that Similac and Enfamil caused premature infants to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe disease that primarily affects preterm babies with underdeveloped lungs and intestines. NEC causes the wall of the intestine to be invaded by bacteria, sometimes leading to perforation of the bowel and emergency surgery, often while the infant is still in the NICU.
The lawsuits allege that Mead Johnson and Abbott knew or should have known that their formulas were unreasonably dangerous for premature infants, yet the companies continued to market and sell Similac and Enfamil without providing adequate warnings about the risk of NEC to parents, hospitals, and health care providers.
If you have a loved one that consumed cow milk-based baby formula and was severely injured, give us a call. We may be able to help. Call our attorneys at Childers, Schlueter & Smith for a free consultation or fill our our contact form.
