Exploring the Effects of Various Early Hospital Feeding Approaches on Feeding Tolerance and Growth in Premature Infants.

ABSTRACT

Background: Feeding intolerance poses a significant risk of malnutrition in premature infants and may result in postnatal growth restriction, leading to irreversible damage to brain function and structure. Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of various early hospital feeding methods on feeding tolerance and the early growth and development of premature infants. Design: A retrospective study design was adopted in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at Tongling Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 2018 and June 2023. Participants: A total of premature, low birth-weight infants admitted to our hospital between January 2018 and June 2023 were selected for the study. The preterm infants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG) using the random number table method. Interventions: The EG group received deep hydrolyzed protein formula (DHPF) milk for 1-3 weeks after opening, whereas the CG group received preterm infant formula milk continuously after the milk was opened. Primary Outcome Measures: (1) Growth and development, (2) Feeding tolerance, and (3) Incidence of complications. Results: Following 14 days of feeding, both study groups exhibited notable increases in body length, body weight, and head circumference (P < .05). These measurements were significantly higher in the EG compared to the CG (P < .05). Furthermore, the EG demonstrated a marked improvement in feeding tolerance relative to the CG (P < .01). Notably, there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P > .05). Conclusions: The administration of deep hydrolyzed protein formula (DHPF) milk presents a promising strategy for enhancing the growth and development of premature infants while concurrently improving feeding tolerance. These findings underscore the potential clinical benefits of incorporating DHPF milk into neonatal care protocols.