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.