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. 2023 Feb 28;4(2):e288.
doi: 10.1097/PG9.0000000000000288. eCollection 2023 May.

Enteral Feeding for Moderately Premature and Low Birth Weight Infants: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

Dorita M Z Dekker  1 , Monique van Brakel  1 , Chris H P van den Akker  2   3 , Frans B Plötz  1   3   4
Affiliations

Enteral Feeding for Moderately Premature and Low Birth Weight Infants: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

Dorita M Z Dekker et al. JPGN Rep. .

Abstract

Controversy exists in clinical practice regarding optimal initial enteral feeding (EF) for moderately premature and low birth weight (BW) infants. We included 96 infants stratified into 3 groups (I: 1600-1799 g [n = 22]; II: 1800-1999 g [n = 42]; III: 2000-2200 g [n = 32]). The protocol recommended starting with minimal EF (MEF) in infants weighing <1800 g. On the first day of life, 5% of the infants in group I did not follow the protocol mandating MEF, but started with exclusive EF instead, compared to 36% and 44% of the infants in groups II and III, respectively. The median number of days until exclusive EF was achieved was 5 days longer for infants receiving MEF than for infants who had received normal portions of EF from birth onward. We observed no significant differences in feeding-related complications. We advocate omitting MEF in moderately premature infants with a BW of 1600 g or higher.

Keywords: CPAP; feeding complications; newborns.

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Conflict of interest statement

Guarantor: F.B.P. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

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