Weight gain in exclusively breastfed preterm infants

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Infant Growth and Development

Background:

• Preterm infants, particularly those with low birth weight, require careful monitoring for optimal growth post-discharge.
• Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for infants, but its impact on the growth of preterm infants after special care nursery discharge needs specific analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively analyze the weight gain of exclusively breastfed preterm low birth weight infants over the first 24 weeks of life.
• To compare growth patterns based on initial birth weight categories and gestational age.

Main Methods:

• Prospective analysis of weight gain in 355 preterm low birth weight infants exclusively breastfed after discharge.
• Categorization of infants by birth weight (1000-1500g and 1501-2000g) and gestational age (32, 34, 36 weeks).
• Calculation of growth velocity and time to double/triple birth weight.

Main Results:

• Infants weighing 1000-1500g doubled birth weight by 10 weeks and tripled by 18 weeks (growth velocity 20-30 g/day).
• Infants weighing 1501-2000g doubled birth weight by 12 weeks and tripled by 16 weeks (growth velocity 30 g/day up to 11 weeks, then 20 g/day).
• Infants born at 32 weeks showed a 3-week growth delay followed by catch-up, while those born at 34-36 weeks had a 2-week delay and similar catch-up, achieving intrauterine growth rates.

Conclusions:

• Exclusive breastfeeding supports significant weight gain in preterm low birth weight infants after discharge.
• Growth patterns are influenced by initial birth weight and gestational age, with a notable catch-up phase observed.
• Attained weights were comparable to intrauterine growth rates, underscoring the efficacy of breastfeeding in this population.