Feeding regimens and catch-up growth in premature and full-term small for gestational age infants

• The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth of infants born small for gestational age (SGA) as a result of 2 different feeding regimens during their hospital stay. A retrospective chart review was performed at 2 hospitals to assess the growth of 42 SGA infants (gestational age: median 37 weeks; range, 30-41 weeks) from birth up to 18 months corrected age. At one hospital, infants were fed according to a proactive nutrition regimen stipulating 200 mL milk/kg per day from day 2 to achieve better weight gain. At the other hospital, milk volumes were gradually increased to 170 mL/kg per day by day 9. Infants fed according to the proactive regimen had lower weight loss and regained their birth weight earlier but did not show better catch-up growth subsequently. The premature SGA infants (n = 20) showed catch-up growth before 40 weeks postmenstrual age. The lower the gestational age at birth, the less negative standard deviation score for length up to a corrected age of 18 months. Although infants fed according to a proactive regimen with liberal volumes of milk during the first days had lower weight loss and regained their birth weight earlier, no evidence was found that this would result in a different pattern of growth in later life.

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MEDICINE

MEDICIN

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art (subject category)