[Nutrition and growth follow-up in the preterm infant]

Penny Gobalakichenane1, Delphine Mitanchez

  • 1Service de néonatologie, hôpital Armand-Trousseau, AP-HP, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris.

La Revue Du Praticien
|April 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Optimizing nutrition for premature infants is crucial for growth. Early enteral and parenteral nutrition, fortified human milk, and individualized feeding plans support catch-up growth, often achieved by one year of age.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Context:

  • Premature infant nutrition is critical for optimal short- and long-term outcomes.
  • The goal is to replicate fetal growth postnatally.
  • Extra-uterine growth restriction requires proactive nutritional management.

Purpose:

  • To review current recommendations for premature infant nutrition.
  • To emphasize the importance of early and optimized nutrient delivery.
  • To guide nutritional strategies from hospital discharge onwards.

Summary:

  • Early enteral and parenteral nutrition, with optimized protein and energy, is recommended to prevent failure to thrive.
  • Fortified human milk is the preferred nutrition, supplemented or complemented as needed.
  • Individualized feeding plans and close growth monitoring are essential for catch-up growth, typically by age one.

Impact:

  • Improved growth and developmental trajectories for premature infants.
  • Reduced incidence of extra-uterine growth restriction.
  • Evidence-based guidance for clinicians managing premature infant nutrition.

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