Standards of nutrition and feeding in preterm infants

Where the newborn small for gestational age less than 37 weeks (less than 259 days), regardless of their birth weight and size, are called in preterm infants (or immature infants).

Nutrition and feeding in preterm infants: now more attention from all circles, generally advocated the early feeding, so that their physiological weight loss time or degree reduced, reduced rates of hypoglycemia occur, relative reduction of blood bilirubin concentration. 6-12 hours of general health began to feed sugar water, 24-hour start breastfeeding, body weight too low or poor in General, such as have been producing cyanosis, dyspnea, or surgery, may be appropriate to postpone the feeding, intravenous fluid replacement.

Their feeding method: varies on its maturation in preterm infants, birth weight heavier, sucking reflex good, direct nursing, instead use the eyedropper or gastric tube feeding.

Intake in preterm infants with birth weight and maturity, and may refer to the intake calculation formula in preterm infants.

Daily feeding in preterm infants within 10 days of birth weight (ML) = (birth all of +10 the number of days) x weight (g/100)

After 10 days of daily feeding amount (ML) =1/5-1/4 weight (grams)

Intake is above the maximum intake, such as preterm infants cannot be finished, the rest can be supplemented by vein, to ensure the supply of protein and calorie and water.

Feed every: according to the milk and weight arrangement, generally weighing 1000 grams, feed once an hour; 1001~1500 g, once every 1.5 hours fed; 1501~2000 g, once in every 2 hours fed; 2001~2500 g, once in every 3 hours, or the case treated separately.

Problems of nutritional needs of premature infants, is a continuing study of the problem:

Generally considered premature to thermal requirements higher than mature infants, per kilogram of body weight required calorie 110~150 kcal per day. Quiet metabolic rates in preterm infants, means a power larger than mature lungs breathing, but absorbing capacity less than mature, so the supply of heat energy is slightly slower start. Where appropriate, to gradually increase.

Protein: in mature infants from breast milk intake per cent of the total calories of protein 6~7%, 10.2% per cent of the total calories of protein intake in preterm infants, a higher than normal.

Amino acids: essential amino acids for 9 in normal infants, premature for 11, due to lack of Invertase in preterm infants, you cannot transform methionine into cysteine, conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine, cysteine, tyrosine becomes essential amino acids must be from food intake.

Inorganic salts: preterm than mature infants need more, because the last stage of the fetus are inorganic salts increase in stages, such as calcium, phosphorus and iron are increased, of less than month, preterm infants will lack of inorganic salts in the body.

Vitamins: vitamin e deficiency in premature infants, susceptible to hemolytic anemia, premature on the rate of absorption of fat than mature infants, and may lack of fat soluble vitamins and other nutrients. Premature infants formula food is breastfeeding good, to be studied. In general nutrition in preterm infants should vary. Different circumstances, individual differences, nutrition should be combined with individual and detailed consideration.