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Physiologic sequelae of prematurity: the nurse practitioner's role. Part V. Feeding difficulties and growth failure
Insights
Premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units often face feeding issues and growth failure. This article details growth expectations and assessments for these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Growth and Development
Background:
- Feeding difficulties and subsequent growth failure are prevalent challenges for premature infants requiring Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission.
- Establishing appropriate growth parameters and expectations is crucial for monitoring and managing these infants' development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present established growth parameters and expected growth trajectories for premature infants.
- To discuss the underlying pathophysiology and common causes contributing to growth failure in this population.
- To outline the essential assessments for identifying and evaluating growth failure in premature infants.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and established growth charts for premature infants.
- Discussion of pathophysiological mechanisms affecting infant growth.
- Description of clinical assessment techniques for growth failure.
Main Results:
- Provides normative growth parameters and expected growth curves specific to premature infants.
- Identifies key factors contributing to feeding difficulties and growth failure.
- Details a comprehensive approach to assessing growth deviations.
Conclusions:
- Accurate monitoring of growth parameters is essential for the well-being of premature infants.
- Understanding the causes of growth failure allows for targeted interventions.
- Standardized assessments aid in the early detection and management of growth issues in the NICU population.
Abstract:
Feeding difficulties and growth failure are common problems in the premature infant who has been in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This article, the fifth in a series, presents growth parameters and growth expectations for the premature infant. It also discusses the pathophysiology, causes, and assessments necessary to determine growth failure in these infants.