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Time of first stool in extremely low birth weight (< or = 1000 grams) infants
1Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20007.
Insights
The first stool in preterm infants typically occurs by 3 days, with 90% passing by 12 days. Birth weight and gestational age did not affect this timing, but male infants showed a delay in first stool passage.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Physiology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Meconium passage is a critical indicator of neonatal gastrointestinal function.
- Understanding the timing of the first stool is important for assessing infant health, particularly in vulnerable preterm populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the timing of the first stool passage in infants with very low birth weight (VBW).
- To determine factors influencing the time of first stool, including birth weight, gestational age, feeding status, and sex.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 144 infants with a birth weight of 1000 gm or less.
- Data collected on birth weight, gestational age, sex, feeding initiation, and time of first stool passage.
Main Results:
- The median age for the first stool passage was 3 days, with 90% of infants passing stool by 12 days.
- No significant correlation was found between the time of first stool and birth weight or gestational age.
- A statistically significant delay in first stool passage was observed in male infants compared to female infants (p = 0.03).
Conclusions:
- The timing of the first stool in very low birth weight infants is generally within the first 12 days of life.
- While most infants pass stool prior to enteral feeding, sex appears to be a factor influencing this milestone.
- Further research may explore the clinical implications of delayed first stool passage in male VBW infants.
Abstract:
The time of first stool was studied in 144 infants with a birth weight of 1000 gm or less. Median age at passage of the first stool was 3 days, and 90% of the infants passed stool by 12 days after birth. There was no relationship between the time of passage of the first stool and either birth weight or gestational age. Of the 114 infants, 88 (77%) passed stool before the initiation of any enteral feeding. The passage of the first stool was delayed in male compared with female infants (p = 0.03).