Early postnatal growth pattern of very low birth weight babies
Singh, M.; Singhi, S.
Indian Pediatrics 15(11): 909-914
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 751924 Document Number: 138904
Duration and severity of initial weight loss, time taken to regain birthweight, weight and head circumference of 39 preterm appropriate-for-dates infants weighing less than 1800 g at birth are presented. The overall mean ( plus or minus s.d.) initial weight loss was 10.2 plus or minus 5.1% of birthweight. The birthweight was regained by 16.5 plus or minus 5.2 days and subsequent daily growth was 17.8 plus or minus 9.8, 20.96 plus or minus 9.5 and 25.08 plus or minus 10.7 g during weeks 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Effects of gestational age and energy intake were evaluated. Energy intake of less than 70 kcal/kg daily during the first week of life was associated with a prolonged period of initial weight loss of 8.4 days compared with 6.2 and 6.6 days among groups with higher intakes. An increasing energy intake during the first weeks of life was attended by rapid regaining of birthweight. In groups receiving less than 70, 71 to 100 and 101 to 130 kcal/kg daily, mean time taken to regain birthweight was 19.3, 17.7 and 11.2 days, respectively. Weight gain rates during week 1, after initial weight loss, were lowest among infants with gestational age of 28 to 31 weeks. During week 1 of life, head growth was slow but subsequently it ranged between 0.5 and 0.7 cm weekly, during the first month of life.