Nutritional influences on the growth of extremely low birth weight infants

Growth failure in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in the neonatal intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

To assess if infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are smaller at birth and have decreased growth parameters between birth and discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS

Retrospective data analysis of term/late-preterm neonates with NAS at a single-center NICU between September 2006 and May 2018. Growth parameters (weight, length, HC) were measured at birth and discharge. Z scores and percentiles were calculated using WHO standard growth curves.

RESULTS

A total of 864 infants ≥35 weeks were admitted for NAS. At birth, median percentiles were weight 30%, HC 23%, and length 37%; these decreased significantly (p < 0.001) at discharge to 12%, 6.5%, and 13%, respectively. The percentage of infants <3rd percentile increased significantly (p < 0.001) in all growth parameters from birth to discharge.

CONCLUSION

Infants with NAS are smaller at birth and have significant growth retardation in all growth parameters at discharge. An ongoing long-term growth follow-up study will discern the impact of growth restriction in NAS infants.

Update on Nutrition for Preterm and Full-Term Infants

Child health and development are contingent on sound nutrition during the neonatal period. The nutritional needs of all infants include adequate intake of fluid and energy; a balance among proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; and proper vitamin and mineral intake. Preterm infants have similar nutritional requirements but demand more frequent assessment of nutritional health and ongoing adjustment of nutritional intake throughout the neonatal period to ensure appropriate growth and development. Evidence-based nursing practice calls for an update on the specific nutritional requirements of infants, special nutritional needs of preterm infants, and the most recent changes in the composition of infant formula.