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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Three-hourly feeding intervals are associated with faster advancement in very preterm infants
Elaine Chu1, Sue Freck2, Lishi Zhang3
1Neonatology Division, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA; Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Division, CHOC Children's, Orange, CA, USA.
Objective:
To compare the effect of two-hourly (Q2H) vs. three-hourly (Q3H) feeding on time to achieve full enteral feeding, growth metrics and respiratory tolerance in very preterm infants with birth weight ≤ 1250 g.
Study Design:
Retrospective study review of 18 months before and after a change in our feeding guideline from Q3H to Q2H feedings.
Results:
113 infants were included, 59 in Q3H and 54 in Q2H groups. Q2H infants required 10% more days to achieve full enteral feeding, however it was not statistically significant (P = 0.054). Q2H feeding was associated with 16% more central catheter days (P = 0.02) and 17% more parenteral nutrition days (P = 0.019). There were no differences in respiratory outcomes or growth metrics between the groups.
Conclusion:
Very preterm infants fed Q3H had less central catheter and parenteral nutrition days when compared to those fed Q2H, without significant differences in growth or respiratory outcomes.
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