NNIW96: Starting & Increasing Feeds, Milk Tolerance And Monitoring Of Gut Health

Feeding buccal colostrum to a preterm baby within six hours of birth improves immunological endpoints, measurable in urine lactoferrin and urinary secretory IGA levels – and it leads to more maternal milk. Studies show infants who are fed early, on day two rather than day six, reach full feeds at day 18, three days earlier than later fed infants. Feeds can be increased from around day four by up to 30ml per kilo per day, although there’s no harm in going at a slower rate. Signs of milk tolerance, such as distension, green aspirates and constipation, are often subjective. There is little benefit to be found from routine gastric aspirates.