Hospital Adopts Human Milk Protocol for Premature Infants
CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center introduces an exclusive human milk-based nutrition protocol for infants born at 30 weeks gestation.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Babies
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CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center has introduced an exclusive human milk-based nutrition protocol for extremely premature infants in its neonatal intensive care unit. The protocol applies to infants born at 30 weeks gestation.
Why it matters
Premature babies need more calories, protein and nutrients than full-term babies, and nutrition choices in the NICU are critical to their health and well-being. The protocol gives the most fragile infants access to specialized human milk-based nutrition in Los Angeles.
The protocol applies to infants born at 30 weeks gestation, and more than 50% of Level III and IV NICUs nationally have used human milk-based fortifiers for their most fragile premature infants over recent years. The announcement does not include outcome data from patients treated under the new protocol.
The players
CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center
A 434-bed acute care hospital in Hollywood with 89 skilled nursing beds and a medical staff of more than 550 physicians and specialists, part of a health system operating across seven countries.
The details
The hospital said the protocol gives its most fragile infants access to specialized human milk-based nutrition, with parents engaged as partners in decisions during the NICU stay. The announcement was made in recognition of Prematurity Awareness Month, and the hospital is a Baby-Friendly designated facility.
Timeline
Nov. 12, 2026: Hospital announced the human milk-based nutrition protocol.
2027: Planned opening of a new facility adding six NICU beds and private Mother-Baby Unit rooms.
Health Landscape
The protocol follows a national pattern in which more than 50% of Level III and IV NICUs have provided human milk-based fortifiers to their most fragile premature infants over recent years. It places the hospital within a broader shift in neonatal care toward human milk-based nutrition for the smallest preemies.
Parents of premature infants in the NICU may now have access to a specialized human milk-based nutrition protocol at this Hollywood hospital. The protocol applies to infants born at 30 weeks gestation and reflects care choices that parents can discuss with the care team.
The takeaway
Parents of premature babies can ask their NICU care team how nutrition options such as human milk-based fortifiers may apply to their infant's care. Choosing nutrition with the medical team is one of the most direct ways families can take part in decisions during a NICU stay.
Further reading
For more on newborn care, see the Babies section.
More information
More details are available on the hospital website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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