Patient's question:
I gave birth at 8 months of pregnancy, so the baby is considered premature. Now he is two months old, and I have been breastfeeding him since birth. A few days ago, someone reminded me that premature babies who only drink breast milk may lack calcium, which made me very worried. So, I would like to ask, do premature babies lack calcium when breastfed?Doctor's answer:
Breast milk itself may cause calcium deficiency in premature infants. If breastfeeding, the infant can take it orally to promote calcium absorption. If breastfeeding, the mother should also take calcium supplements orally. Typically, she should eat more fruits and vegetables with high calcium content, as well as meats like spinach, kelp, shrimp, etc., which are particularly rich in calcium. She can also cook some bone broth to drink, which can supplement calcium and increase milk content.