Author: Embleton

A randomised controlled trial of full milk feeds versus intravenous nutrition with gradual feeding for preterm infants (30-33 weeks gestational age)

The rates of premature birth are increasing, with most occurring between 32 and 36 weeks gestation, called Late and Moderately PreTerm (LMPT) infants. These babies weigh 1.25-2.5kg at birth and have different nutritional requirements to those born full term. However, most nutrition studies have tended to focus on extremely premature infants (gestation < 32 weeks) and there are few data on growth in LMPT infants.

Around 10% of babies are premature (born before 37 weeks), but feeding them is complex. Mothers own breast-milk (MOM) is best and results in better outcomes such as fewer infections, but many mothers do not produce enough milk so either donor human milk (DHM) or a cow’s milk derived formula are used to make up the ‘shortfall’.

Very preterm babies are unable to tolerate nutritional volumes of milk without complications so require parenteral nutrition whilst milk feeds are built up. The best speed of increasing these feeds to achieve full milk feeds without causing complications is not yet known and a trial is needed to determine this balance.

The aim of this study is to compare two practices that are widely used in neonatal units across the UK and around the world to see if one reduces the risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in babies born early (premature). NEC is a serious gut disease that affects about 1 in 20 very premature babies (about 500 each year).