To ensure cognitive development in premature infants, breastfed preterm babies should receive supplementation of the following nutrients: Appropriate calcium and vitamin D supplementation: Provide 100mg/kg of calcium daily; begin administering 800-1200 IU of vitamin D daily starting in the second week after birth. Note that when using cod liver oil, vitamin A dosage should not exceed 10,000 IU per day.
Iron, Vitamin E, and Folic Acid Supplementation: Iron supplementation typically begins at 6–8 weeks postnatal and continues until age 1, with a preventive dose of 2 mg/kg·day.Premature infants often have lower serum vitamin E levels than term infants. Supplement with 15 mg of vitamin E daily starting at 10 days of age. Premature infants also have lower serum folate levels at 2 weeks of age, and folate is essential for erythropoiesis. Therefore, supplement with 20–50 μg of folate daily.
Zinc supplementation: The recommended infant zinc intake is 3 mg/day. Breast milk provides: 3.67 mg/day in colostrum, 1.79 mg/day in transitional milk, and 0.95 mg/day in mature milk. Thus, transitional and mature breast milk alone cannot meet requirements. Zinc supplementation should be initiated around 4 weeks postpartum based on individual needs.
Vitamins B and C: Daily supplementation of 65 mg vitamin B and 50 mg vitamin C should be administered in two divided doses.Prematurity shortens the process of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) accumulation in the fetal brain, resulting in lower reserves in preterm infants. Given their rapid neurological development and high LCPUFA requirements, mothers should consume LCPUFA-rich foods like fish to ensure adequate levels in breast milk.