Very Low Birthweight

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?