Nutritional Strategies for the Very Low Birthweight Infant

Practical guidance on feeds and nutritional supplements for healthcare professionals who care for premature babies. Concise text and figures review all aspects of nutritional management of premature babies who weigh <1500 grams at birth, encompassing management from the first hour to the end of the first year of life.

The goal of nutritional management in VLBW and ELBW infants is the achievement of postnatal growth at a rate that approximates the intrauterine growth of a normal fetus at the same postconceptional age. In reality, however, growth lags considerably after birth; although non-nutritional factors are involved, nutrient deficiencies are critical in explaining delayed growth. This practical clinically-oriented pocketbook reviews and summarises all available clinical evidence. It enables the reader to implement parenteral or enteral feeding plans, with the goals of reducing postnatal weight loss, earlier return to birthweight, and improved catch-up growth. Both nutrient balance and growth and the impact on neurodevelopment and health outcomes are evaluated. With many tables and algorithms to summarise key data and management strategies, Nutritional Strategies for the Very Low Birthweight Infant is an invaluable guide for all healthcare professionals caring for premature babies.