Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Evaluation of postnatal growth in very low birth weight infants: a neonatologist's dilemma
1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Turin University, Turin, Italy.
Insights
Monitoring the postnatal growth of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is crucial. New growth charts and velocity charts are needed to accurately track VLBW infant development during and after hospitalization.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric growth and development
- Infant nutrition
Background:
- Survival rates for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants have significantly improved due to advancements in obstetrical and neonatal care.
- VLBW infants represent a substantial population in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), necessitating accurate growth assessment.
- Optimal nutrition and growth patterns for VLBW infants remain subjects of ongoing research and debate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of evaluating the postnatal growth of VLBW infants.
- To emphasize the need for standardized growth charts and velocity charts for VLBW infants.
- To address the ongoing controversy regarding optimal nutrition and growth patterns in this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of current understanding of VLBW infant growth.
- Discussion of the limitations of existing growth assessment tools.
- Proposal for the development of prospective longitudinal growth charts (weight, length, head circumference) and absolute velocity charts.
Main Results:
- VLBW infants exhibit a distinct postnatal growth pattern compared to higher birth weight infants.
- Standardized growth charts are essential for monitoring VLBW infant growth during hospitalization and up to 2-3 years post-discharge.
- Absolute velocity charts offer potential for earlier and more sensitive detection of growth anomalies.
Conclusions:
- Accurate monitoring of VLBW infant growth is a primary concern in neonatal care.
- Prospective longitudinal studies are required to establish reliable growth charts for VLBW infants.
- The development and utilization of both distance and velocity charts are vital for optimizing VLBW infant care and outcomes.
Abstract:
Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants' survival has greatly increased in the last few decades thanks to the improvement in obstetrical and neonatal care. The correct evaluation of postnatal growth of these babies is nowadays of primary concern, although the definitions of their optimal nutrition and postnatal growth pattern are still controversial. It is known that VLBW infants have a specific postnatal growth pattern markedly different from that of higher birthweight full-term infants. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to trace VLBW infants growth charts for weight, length and head circumference. These charts will be a useful tool to monitor postnatal growth of VLBW infants both during hospitalisation and after discharge, up to 2 or 3 years of age. A useful tool in VLBW infants growth evaluation could also be absolute velocity charts that, allowing a better and earlier identification of growth anomalies, could permit the observation of phenomena not yet visible on distance charts. Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants' survival has greatly increased in the last few decades thanks to the improvement in obstetrical and neonatal care. These neonates represent about 1-1.5% of all live born infants in developed countries (1) and they constitute the large majority of the population in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). For this reason, the correct evaluation of their postnatal growth is of primary concern nowadays although the definitions of optimal nutrition and postnatal growth pattern are still controversial.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Nature and Nurture
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion