The use of breastmilk in a neonatal unit and its relationship to protein and energy intake and growth.
OBJECTIVE
A nutritional audit was performed to determine whether current feeding regimes were achieving nutritional goals and to evaluate the use of breastmilk (BM) in a neonatal unit (NNU).


METHODS
All fluid consumed or infused daily was documented with daily weight and weekly length and head circumference measurements in 90 preterm infants (gestational age 30.1 +/- 2.6 weeks) while in the NNU for 60 +/- 27 days. Daily protein and energy intakes were calculated using values for South Australian preterm BM.


RESULTS
Parenteral nutrition provided 85% of the daily energy in week 1 falling to 11% by week 6. Ninety per cent of infants received some of their mother's BM and 62% were discharged at least partially breastfed. Protein and energy intakes were 1.03 +/- 0.35 g and 55 +/- 10 kcal/kg/day in week 1, increasing to 2.52 +/- 0.60 g and 109 +/- 15 kcal/kg per day by week 4. Protein intake correlated with weight gain (r2 = 0.39). Weight gain was 14.0 +/- 2.0 g/kg per day and z-scores for weight declined from -0.25 on admission to -1.22 on discharge, P < 0.0001. When infants were divided into two groups comprising those who received BM or formula as their predominant enteral feed, growth and protein intake (but not energy intake) were lower in the BM-fed infants. However, enteral feeds were tolerated earlier and more quickly in those infants receiving predominantly BM.


CONCLUSIONS
Energy requirements were readily met using current feeding regimes for preterm infants but protein intakes were marginal. Mothers of preterm infants had similar breastfeeding rates to mothers of term infants in South Australia. The long-term effects of the lower growth rates of preterm infants fed predominantly BM compared with those fed predominantly formula are unknown and need be balanced against the benefits of BM.
Simmer
K
K
Department of Paediatrics, Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia, Australia.
Metcalf
R
R
Daniels
L
L
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002149:Energy Intake; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008895:Milk, Human; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition
D004044:Dietary Proteins