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Weight gain in exclusively breastfed preterm infants
J Ramasethu1, L Jeyaseelan, C P Kirubakaran
1Department of Child Health, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Insights
Exclusively breastfed preterm infants showed significant weight gain, comparable to intrauterine growth rates. These findings highlight the effectiveness of breastfeeding for low birth weight infants post-discharge.
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.
Abstract:
The weight gain of 355 preterm low birth weight infants, who were exclusively breastfed by their own mothers after discharge from the special care nursery, was analysed prospectively over the first 24 weeks of infancy. Preterm infants with birth weights of 1000-1500 g significantly doubled their birth weight by 10 weeks of age and tripled it by 18 weeks, with a growth velocity of 20-30 g/day up to 20 weeks of age. Preterm infants with birth weights of 1501-2000 g doubled their birth weight by 12 weeks of age and tripled it by 16 weeks, with a growth velocity of 30 g/day up to 11 weeks and 20 g/day after the 12th week. Preterm infants born at 32 weeks gestational age had a period of growth delay up to 3 weeks of age followed by a brisk catch-up phase, whereas infants born at 34 and 36 weeks gestational age had a shorter period of growth delay of 2 weeks followed by a similar catch up phase. The weights attained were comparable to intra-uterine growth rates.