Very low birth weight infants receive full enteral nutrition within 2 postnatal weeks

• Published in: Journal of perinatology Vol. 40; no. 12; pp. 1849 - 1856
• Main Authors: Fenin, Audrey, Newman, Jill C, Taylor, Sarah N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.12.2020; Nature Publishing Group US
• Subjects: Birth weight; Birth weight, Low; Diet therapy; Enteral feeding; Enteral Nutrition; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Infants; Low birth weight; Methods; Neonatal intensive care; Nutrition; Nutritional Status; Patient outcomes; Pediatric research; Physical growth; Tube feeding; Weight; United States
• ISSN: 0743-8346; 1476-5543
• DOI: 10.1038/s41372-020-00819-4

Identify whether an enteral nutrition goal of reaching full feeds by 7 postnatal days for infants 1-1.5 kg and by 14 postnatal days for infants <1 kg was feasible and its associated outcomes. Very low birth weight infant cohort admitted in the first postnatal day and categorized as either Epoch 1 or Epoch 2, 12 months before and after implementation of a revised feeding protocol were compared. In Epoch 2, 83% infants born 1-1.5 kg and 77% infants born <1 kg reached full feeds by 7 and 14 days compared to 26% and 25%, respectively in Epoch 1 (p < 0.0001). Central line and parental nutrition days were significantly lower in Epoch 2 compared to Epoch 1 with sustained and potentially improved infant growth. An evidence-based advancement feeding protocol was associated with achieving full feeds within the first 2 postnatal weeks for very low birth weight infants.