Background: Current evidence supports progressive feeding in preterm infants. Due to lower necrotising enterocolitis risk, recent studies suggest starting total enteral feeding from birth in 30-33 weeks preterm infants. The feasibility of this practice is unclear.
Aim: Explore feeding practices in 30-33 weeks preterm infants.
Design: Prospective, multicentre, observational study recruiting 10 consecutive 30-33 weeks preterm infants from each of the eight UK hospitals.
Results: Eighty infants received their first feed at median of 24 hours, achieving total enteral (without intravenous nutrition) and full feeds (≥150 ml/kg/day) at median of 5 and 8 days, respectively. Eleven infants who achieved total enteral feeding within 24 hours after birth achieved full feeds earlier (p=0.02) with shorter hospital stay (p=0.009) but were also of older gestation (p=0.004).
Conclusion: Current early feeding approaches in 30-33 weeks preterm infants were found to be conservative. Total enteral feeding from birth is possible in these infants but further studies are needed.
Keywords: infant feeding; neonatology; nutrition.