Very low birthweight infants receive less enteral feeding than what is prescribed

AimFeeding a very low birthweight (VLBW, <1500 g) infant is challenging. Our aims were to study how prescribed enteral feeding is implemented in VLBW infants and to identify factors associating with slow enteral feeding progression.MethodsOur retrospective cohort included 516 VLBW infants born before 32 weeks of gestation during 2005-2013 and admitted to Children's Hospital, Helsinki, Finland, for at least the two first weeks of life. Nutritional data were collected from birth until the age of 14-28 days, depending on the length of stay.ResultsWe found that enteral feeding progressed slower than recommended and implementation differed from the prescriptions, especially during the parenteral nutrition phase (milk intake 10-20 mL/kg/day): 71% [40-100], median [IQR], of the prescribed enteral milk was administered. The full prescribed amount was less likely administered if a higher volume of gastric residual was aspirated or if the infant did not pass stool during the same day. Longer opiate use, patent ductus arteriosus, respiratory distress syndrome and slower passage of the first meconium associated with slower enteral feeding progression.ConclusionEnteral feeding of a VLBW infant is often not administered as prescribed, which possibly plays a significant role in the slow progression of enteral feeding.