Low Birthweight and Preterm Infant Feeding Trial and Supportive Care Package (LIFT-UP): Randomized Controlled Trial of In-facility Fortification of Human Milk in India and Malawi
The goal of the LIFT-UP randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of feeding routinely and fortified human milk using a standardized clinical protocol to very low birthweight (VLBW) or very preterm (VPT) infants in the NICU compared to not feeding routinely fortified human milk using the standardized clinical protocol. The primary research question is: Will VLBW or VPT infants in the NICU who are fed fortified human milk using a standardized feeding protocol have better growth outcomes by facility discharge and at 3 months of age, less illness by discharge, and decreased mortality by discharge and at one month compared to those who are not routinely fed fortified human milk using the same feeding protocol?
• Very LBW (≤1.5kg)\* or very preterm (≤32 weeks) infants admitted to NICU at study facility within 24 hours of birth for in-born infants and up to 48 hours for out-born\*\*
• Mother and infant alive during screening
• Mother age 18+ years or 16-17 and married (Malawi only)
• Lives within catchment areas of the facility (50km)
• Mother intends to stay in catchment area of the study facility for at least 3 months
• At randomization: Infant receiving at least 60 mL/kg/day of human milk\*\*\*