Nurturing preterm infants - Transition to effective feeding strategies

Advancements in neonatal intensive care have markedly improved the survival of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants and reduced the incidence of severe postnatal growth restriction. However, despite these achievements, many preterm infants are discharged from hospital with suboptimal nutritional status and growth trajectories that differ significantly from those of term infants. The post-discharge period therefore represents a critical phase in which nutrition must transition from medically controlled regimens to family-managed feeding, while continuing to meet the infant’s unique physiological and developmental needs. Optimizing growth during this period is fundamental for favorable neurodevelopmental outcomes and long-term metabolic health, yet remains challenging because of feeding difficulties, inconsistent nutrient intake, and the lack of standardized follow-up protocols.