KEY POINTS 1. Hypoglycemia is frequently seen in premature and critically ill term infants. 2. Neonates are at risk of hypoglycemia in the early neonatal period because of the abrupt interruption of maternal glucose transfer to the baby at birth,…
KEY POINTS 1. All infants should be classified at birth with the use of appropriate anthropometric measurement techniques to determine risk status for complications such as hypoglycemia or catabolism. Growth charts and tools to determine z -scores are readily available…
KEY POINTS 1. Intestinal failure (IF) is defined as the loss of functional gut mass to levels below those needed for digestion and absorption of fluid and nutrients required to support adequate nutrition and growth. 2. Short bowel syndrome (SBS)…
KEY POINTS 1. Parenteral nutrition is a necessary component of the nutritional and medical management of the premature infant. 2. The fluid, macronutrient, and micronutrient requirements are unique to the premature infant due to their transition from the intrauterine to…
KEY POINTS 1. The benefits of enteral nutrition for the preterm infant extend beyond growth and encompass gastrointestinal development and gut inflammatory balance. 2. Preterm infant intake of mother’s milk, including oral immune therapy, is associated with improved outcomes. 3.…
KEY POINTS 1. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts by an adult host, are believed to and in many instances have been shown to confer health benefits. 2. The best-known probiotics belong to the genera Bifidobacteria…
KEY POINTS 1. Human milk is an important source of nutrients, immunologic factors, and pre- and probiotic factors for preterm and critically ill infants for up to 6 months after birth. 2. Human milk has positive effects on enhanced maturation…
KEY POINTS 1. The female breast develops with chronologic maturation, during pregnancy, and with major physiologic/endocrine changes in preparation for lactation after delivery. 2. Care providers need to begin preparing pregnant women for lactation during antenatal visits by providing information…
KEY POINTS 1. There are three types of apnea: central, mixed, and obstructive. Mixed apnea is most common in longer episodes of apnea. 2. Apnea of prematurity is primarily due to the immaturity of respiratory and central nervous systems. 3.…
KEY POINTS 1. Minimally invasive surfactant therapy administered via a thin catheter is the most commonly studied less invasive surfactant administration strategy and has been shown to improve survival free of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). 2. Compared with continuous positive airway…