Could a few drops of milk help preterm Babies' brains?
NCT ID NCT06230848
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tested whether giving very small amounts of human milk by mouth to preterm infants (born 22-34 weeks) starting at 3 days old is practical and acceptable. 14 babies received up to 1 mL of milk after each care session until they could feed on their own. The study measured how often the milk was given, parent satisfaction, and early signs of development. The goal is to see if this simple method might reduce stress and improve outcomes for premature babies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
human milk (mother's own or donor)
What this could lead to
If this approach works, it could lead to a simple, low-cost way to support brain development and reduce stress in premature babies.
What could go wrong
This is a very small pilot study with only 14 babies, so results may not apply to all preterm infants. The main goal is just to see if the method is practical, not to prove it works.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, Illinois, 60153, United States