GROWTH PATTERNS OF APPROPRIATE-FOR-GESTATIONAL AGE PRETERM BABIES EXCLUSIVELY FED ON BREAST MILK

GROWTH PATTERNS OF APPROPRIATE-FOR-GESTATIONAL AGE PRETERM BABIES EXCLUSIVELY FED ON BREAST MILK

Abstract

The early postnatal growth achievements of preterm babies are known to be lower than
would have been expected from normal intrauterine growth rates. Few studies have been
done in Nigeria to elucidate the growth pattern of this group of babies. The main aim of
the work was to study the early postnatal growth patterns of appropriate-for-gestational
age preterm babies.

The study was done in the Special Care Baby Unit and maternity ward of the Federal
Medical Centre, Owerri over a period of twelve (12) months. The preterm subjects were
born at gestational ages 28 to 36 weeks and were fed exclusively on mothers’ breast milk.
Weight was recorded at presentation and then daily until discharge; thereafter,
measurement was done weekly until 40 weeks postconception. The occipitofrontal
circumference and length of the babies were measured weekly until 40 weeks post
conception. A comparison group of 250 babies born at 40 weeks post conception was
recruited. The weight, crown-heel length and occipitofrontal circumference of the
comparison group were recorded at birth. Comparisons were made between the growth
achievements of the preterm babies at 40 weeks postconception and the birth anthropometry of the term babies. Analysis included generation of mean and standard
deviation; rates of change in anthropometric parameters were calculated. Statistical
analysis involved t-test and multiple regression.

The mean age at nadir weight, regaining of birth weight and mean percent weight loss
were all inversely related to the gestational age at birth. The mean age at regaining birth
weight ranged from 14.7 days to 29.2 days while the mean percent weight loss ranged
from 9.0% to 17.9% and the fastest rate of weight accretion per kg of birth weight
occured in babies born at 28-30 weeks gestation. For the rest of subjects, the rate of
weight gain increased with gestational age.
The length achievements of preterm subjects increased with gestational age at delivery
ranging from 44.13 cm to 47.85 cm while the rate of increase in length ranged from 0.57
cm/week to 0.84 cm/week with the highest rate in babies born at 35/36 weeks gestation.
The rate of increase in head size ranged from 0.56 cm/week to 0.75 cm/week with the
highest rate in babies born at 35/36 weeks GA.
The mean weight, length and occipitofrontal circumference achievements of all groups of
preterm babies were significantly lower than those of comparative babies born at 40
completed weeks. The main exception was that of babies born at 35/36 weeks who had
higher occipitofrontal circumference than those of the comparative group.

GROWTH PATTERNS OF APPROPRIATE-FOR-GESTATIONAL AGE PRETERM BABIES EXCLUSIVELY FED ON BREAST MILK

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