Effect of different timing of intensive breastfeeding on physical and neurodevelopment of premature infants

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of different timing of intensive breastfeeding on physical development, blood biochemical indicators, complications and neurological development of premature infants during hospitalization.

MethodsAccording to different timing of intensive breastfeeding, 122 preterm infants were divided into early group (60 cases were added with fortification when feeding up to 50 mL·kg^-1·d^-1) and late group (62 cases were added with fortification when feeding up to 100 mL·kg^-1·d^-1).The growth and development, biochemical indicators, incidence of complications, and neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) were compared between the two groups.

ResultsThe weight gain rate during hospitalization in the early group (17.28±3.5) g·kg^-1·d^-1 was higher than that in the late group (15.71±3.4) g·kg^-1·d^-1, with statistical differences (P < 0.05).However, there was no significant difference in head circumference, growth rate of body length, average length of stay and time to return to birth weight between the two groups (P>0.05).There was no significant difference in albumin, preprotein, urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase and blood phosphorus between the two groups at discharge (P>0.05), and the blood calcium level in the early group was higher than that in the late group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05).The incidence of feeding intolerance (FI) in premature infants in the early group 16.6% (10/60) was higher than that in the late group 4.8% (3/62) (P < 0.05).However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, nosocomial infection, retinopathy of prematurity, anemia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia between the two groups (P>0.05).The abnormal rate of head MRI in the early group was lower than that in the late group (P < 0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in the abnormal rates of NBNA and aEEG between the two groups (P>0.05).

ConclusionsEarly supplementation of breast milk fortifiers can promote weight gain and increase blood calcium levels in premature infants, and the abnormal rate of cranial MRI is lower than that of the late group.