Incidence of Feeding Intolerance Among Very Low Birth Weight Babies Admitted in Tertiary Care Hospital: a Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Feeding intolerance is common among the preterm neonates. Feeding intolerance is defined as difficulty in ingestion or digestion of the milk that causes a disruption in the enteral feeding. Very Low birth weight (VLBW) infant are defined as baby whose birth weight is less than 1500 gm. Objectives: Feeding intolerance is high among very low birth weight babies. The study was designed to know the feeding intolerance and its clinical signs and symptoms among very low birth weight babies.

Methodology: This is a part of prospective observational study conducted in in Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Nepal, for a duration of 12 months among preterm infants aged 28-34 weeks of Gestation. In this study only very, low birth weight babies (VLBW) weighing more than 1000 gm to less than 1500 gm were included

Results: Among the 490 preterm babies (28-34 Weeks), 207(42.2%) were very low birth weight babies. Among very low birth weight babies, feeding intolerance was present in 33 babies (15.9%). There were 69 one or more signs of feed intolerance in the 33 babies of which vomiting was present 31 babies followed by gastric residue, abdominal distension and apnea. The feeding intolerance was more among primiparous mothers, babies fed with formula feed and when feeding was started <24 hours. (P
value 0.79, 0.41, 0.35).

Conclusion: Feeding intolerance is common among very low birth weight babies (15.9%). Vomiting along with gastric residue and abdominal distension were common symptoms of feeding intolerance