Define Nutrition Management and Feeding the Premature Infant
There are numerous nutritional risk factors in premature infants. These include:
- Elevated metabolic rate, thus increasing the protein, fat, energy requirements. Excessive urinary and evaporative losses.
- Immature gastrointestinal tract (poor gastric emptying and improper peristalsis). .
- Respiratory distress and hypoxia,
There are number of feeding problems faced by the premature infant due to:
- Poor sucking reflex,
- Difficulty in swallowing and breathing,
- Small gastric capacity,
- Reduced intestinal motility, and
- Getting tired easily after being fed or handled.
As for the nutritional requirements, there is an increased nutrient need due to catch- up growth with approximately 110-130 Kcal/kg body weight/day. The nutrient requirements are elaborated further herewith.