Shop Plans
Health
Find a Health Plan
We offer a complete choice of plans to meet your coverage needs and fit your budget.
More Plans
Travel
Cancer
VIP
Dental
Get a Dental Plan
We offer three Traditional plans and three Certified plans to meet your needs.
Medicare
Pick a Medicare Plan
Thinking about your Medicare options? Find out which plan is right for you.
Find Doctor or Drug
Find a Doctor
Find a Doctor or Drug
Pick a directory to search or find other helpful information about drug resources, quality programs and more.
Directories
Louisiana Provider Directory
Quality Blue Directory
National Provider Directory
BlueDental Advantage Plus Directory
Davis Vision Directory
Hospital Based Physicians
ER/OR Information
Are you planning a hospital stay? If you just found out that you need surgery, or if you will be admitted to a hospital or ambulatory surgical center for any reason, you will most likely receive some care during your stay from a hospital-based physician. Learn more.
Other Directories
Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core
Federal Employee Program (FEP)
Rx Drug Resources
Manage your medicine, find drug lists and learn how to save money.
Quality Programs
Quality Blue Programs
We work with doctors, hospitals and clinics around Louisiana to make sure you have a better healthcare experience.
Save Money
$25 Gym Memberships
Find a Gym
For just $25 a month and a $25 enrollment fee, you'll have access to 9,000 participating fitness locations around the state and nation.
More Money-Saving Tips
Find Discounts
Lower Drug Costs
Preventive Care Services
Primary Care Doctor
Pick a Primary Care Doctor
Picking a primary care doctor is an important step to staying healthy and saving money.
Choose the Right Care
Where you and go and who you see for treatment is a big part of getting quality healthcare while saving money.
Wellness
Discounts
Get discounts on gym memberships, fitness gear, healthy eating, prescriptions and more.
More Wellness Tips
Tools
Member Programs
Find a Program
Whether you want to quit smoking or find the right doctor, we have many programs to help.
Wellness Library
Learn About Wellness
Read articles, take quizzes, watch videos and listen to podcasts about many health topics.
Learn
Insurance 101
Learn the Basics
Understand your plan, learn about health savings accounts, and watch helpful videos.
Social
Find Us on Social Media
Join the conversation and stay connected with us for exclusive content.
Straight Talk
Get Straight Answers
If you're looking for a straight answer to your healthcare questions, this is the place.
My Account
My Account Information
Claims
Benefits
Costs
Statements
Pharmacy
Manage Account
Manage Your Account
Pay your bill, view your statements or update your email or password.
Forms
Other Coverage Questionnaire
Authorized Delegate
Health Assessment
The nutrients and calories in human milk are often enough for "older" or "bigger" premature babies, and for many other high-risk babies. But lower nutrient levels and the "full-term" calorie count in human milk may cause problems for a low-birth-weight baby who weighed 3 pounds, 5 ounces (1,500 grams) or less at birth. Very preterm and low-birth-weight babies miss the growth of fat, muscle, and bones that usually happens in the last few weeks of pregnancy. To "catch up" on this growth, they need a boost of protein and minerals that breastmilk alone can't provide. They also may need more calories.
Fortunately, adding to (fortifying) your milk won't lessen the nutritional and anti-infective benefits your baby will gain from getting your milk. But it may help to better provide the nutrition your baby needs.
The most common ways of adding nutrients and calories are:
Hindmilk feeding. When a higher calorie count is the only concern, you may be asked to pump your milk for several minutes and then stop to change collection bottles to collect the rest of the milk. The early milk you get while pumping is called foremilk. It's valuable and has many nutrients and protective factors, but it is lower in fat and calories than the milk you pump later. This milk collected after the first several minutes is called hindmilk. This tends to be higher in calorie-rich fats. Freeze any foremilk for later use . Only use this strategy if told to do so by your baby's healthcare provider.
Human milk fortifier (HMF). HMF adds to the nutrients already in your breastmilk to meet your baby's higher requirements. It supplies increased protein for growth and minerals calcium and phosphorous that low-birth-weight and some high-risk babies need for proper bone development. HMF is added directly to a bottle of your own milk. Often a powdered version is used when you have plenty of your own milk. Liquid HMF will be used if you have reduced amounts of your breastmilk.
Premature infant formulas. Sometimes feedings of mother's milk may be alternated with feedings of a premature infant formula. This may be done if HMF is not thought to be the best choice, or when you have reduced amounts of your breastmilk.
How long your baby requires added nutrients and calories will depend on your baby's age, weight, health, and how well they can breastfeed.