Prematurity and Birth Weight

Abstract

Premature births occur at a time when accelerated fetal growth is normally occurring and results in supporting this important period of growth while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Every effort is made to ensure that the continued growth of premature infants is healthy. The characteristics of this growth lay the foundation for long‐term health outcomes. However, there is a lack of consensus as to how this growth should look while in the NICU. Growth charts provide the best mechanism to assess the growth of premature infants and provide some estimation of expected or desired growth. The available intrauterine and postnatal growth charts have advantages and disadvantages. Clinicians have to select the growth chart that they envision will provide them with the necessary clinically relevant information to employ strategies that will maximize the healthy growth of premature infants. This entry provides an overview of the available growth charts specifically designed for monitoring and interpreting the growth and nutritional intake of premature infants.