WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Babies in the NICU need nutrients to help them grow and develop, and a new technology at Brenner Children's Hospital will help them get care for their individual needs.

• The Brenner NICU is the first in the country to use the FDA approved breast milk analyzer
• In just a minute the machine details the percentage of nutrients in the mother's milk
• Mother's can't control the genetic breakdown of their milk, so it takes doctors and nurses adding to the milk to service the needs of the baby

The Brenner NICU is the first in the country to use the FDA approved breast milk analyzer. In just a minute the machine details the percentage of nutrients in the mother's milk.

In the past, hospital staff had to guess which nutrients to add to the milk based on national averages. Sometimes babies need more protein, or sometimes it's carbohydrates or fat.

"We give babies a lot of medicines and things, but it's really what they're getting from their moms and the nutritional support that we're getting them that is the most important thing that we're doing for them. Because, again, they're growing. That's their biggest job is to grow," Dr. Cherrie Welch said. She is the Medical Director for Brenner's NICU.

Mother's can't control the genetic breakdown of their milk, so it takes doctors and nurses adding to the milk to service the needs of the baby.

"Studies have shown using this targeted approach when you know what's in the mom's milk and you're fortifying specifically what the baby needs in addition to mom's milk babies actually grow more appropriately as they would be expected to in utero," Cherrie said.

The hospital bought the machine from a Swedish company, and received it just about three weeks ago.

Moms with children in the NICU are excited about the results to come.

"They're going to be able to specialize it to what she needs, what my milk doesn't have that they know she needs," Kerri Yandle said.