Feeding practices and growth of preterm infants discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Auckland City Hospital until twelve months corrected age : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
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Date
2014
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Massey University
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Abstract
Background: Preterm infants are unique in their physiological, developmental and
nutritional needs. Previous research regarding the preterm infant has focused on
interventions within the hospital setting. Recently the lack of research in the post discharge
period has been highlighted. The period after discharge poses a vulnerable period as
previous intensive care, growth and nutritional monitoring of the infant are no longer
readily available. The aim of this study was to identify current breastfeeding,
complementary feeding, feeding practices and growth of preterm infants after hospital
discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Auckland City Hospital until
twelve months corrected age.
Method: Infants who were born preterm (<37 weeks’ gestation) were recruited from
Auckland City Hospital NICU, a tertiary care level hospital. Homes visits were undertaken at
four months after discharge and at twelve months corrected age to collect anthropometric
measurements. Online surveys were administered at four months post discharge and at six,
nine and twelve months corrected age. Data collected included demographic information at
birth, mode of feeding, age of introduction of complementary foods and types of foods
introduced to infants. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Group comparisons
were made using Pearson’s chi-square (2), Fishers Exact test and paired T- tests.
Differences were considered significant at P< 0.05.
Results: Sixty-eight preterm infants were recruited from the NICU at Auckland City Hospital
of whom the majority (76%) were born moderate to late preterm. The median (range) age
of babies was 34 weeks (24+2 - 36+6 weeks) and their mean (± SD) birth weight was 2.03 ±
0.65 kg. At hospital discharge 73% of the infants were exclusively breastfed. By four months
after discharge this had decreased to 46%, and by 12 months corrected age, only 21% of
babies continued to be breastfed. The mean chronological age of complementary food
introduction was 23 ± 4.4 weeks (range 12 - 34 weeks). The majority of the babies (84%)
started complementary feeding within the recommended age range. The most common first
food was baby rice (45%) and infants showed increasing variation in their diet from six until
twelve months corrected age. Z-scores for weight, length and head circumference were
calculated using UK-WHO data. There was a significant decrease in mean Z-scores for
weight, length and head circumference between birth and hospital discharge. The majority
of infants regained this deficit by four months and twelve months corrected age. Although,
there were a few infants found to be at risk of growth faltering.
Conclusion: This study shows that the majority of preterm infants discharged from the NICU
are breastfed at discharge, although, breastfeeding declines significantly by four months
after discharge and thereafter. The majority of infants are introduced to complementary
feeding appropriately although the choices of early complementary foods need to be
addressed to include high energy nutrient dense foods. Lastly, growth in the post discharge
period of these infants was adequate to support and maintain growth for the majority of
infants, more research is needed to determine the feeding practices over this time which
impacted on growth.
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Keywords
Premature infants, Nutrition, Hospital care, Auckland, New Zealand, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit