Continuous feeding is preferred for VLBW infants

Abstract

The more we study strategies to feed very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, the more tolerant of feeding these infants seem to be. In the recent past, feedings were delayed, often for weeks, and hyperalimentation derived calories from sugar, protein and lipid were each increased slowly. The inevitable outcome was poor nutrition, poor growth, and gut atrophy. However, the fetus is swallowing large amounts of amniotic fluid demonstrating that the fetal gut can handle the low caloric density high fluid load of amniotic fluid.