Skip to main content
NCBI home page
British Medical Journal logoLink to British Medical Journal
. 1972 Sep 2;3(5826):547–550. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5826.547

Continuous Intragastric Milk Feeds in Infants of Low Birth Weight

H B Valman, C D Heath, R J K Brown
PMCID: PMC1785871  PMID: 4627050

Abstract

In a feeding trial 66 infants of low birth weight received continuous intragastric milk feeds from the fourth hour of life, starting with 60 ml/kg/24 hr and reaching a maximum of 300 ml/kg/24 hr on the ninth day. Each infant received only full-strength milk, which was either expressed human breast milk or SMA-S26 (a proprietary low-protein adapted cows' milk) or half-cream Regal milk (partly-skimmed evaporated cows' milk). For various reasons 10 babies had to be withdrawn, and the final assessment was made on the 56 who completed the trial successfully.

Persistent vomiting was a problem in only four infants. In two of them the trial was continued after gastric lavage and in the other two vomiting stopped when the volume was reduced. Despite a careful search no evidence was found of aspiration of feeds in any infant. Continuous intragastric milk infusion was shown to be a safe method of feeding infants of low birth weight and SMA-S26 was almost as well tolerated as human milk. Because of the high-protein content of half-cream cows' milk preparations and the resultant high plasma amino-acid levels when they are given in these large volumes they should be avoided for this type of feeding although they produce better weight gains in the first week of life.

Full text

PDF
547

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BACHRA B. N., DAUER A., SOBEL A. E. The complexometric titration of micro and ultramicro quantities of calcium in blood serum, urine, and inorganic salt solutions. Clin Chem. 1958 Apr;4(2):107–119. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BUETOW K. C., KLEIN S. W. EFFECT OF MAINTENANCE OF "NORMAL" SKIN TEMPERATURE ON SURVIVAL OF INFANTS OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT. Pediatrics. 1964 Aug;34:163–170. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Babson S. G. Growth of low-birth-weight infants. J Pediatr. 1970 Jul;77(1):11–18. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(70)80039-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Barltrop D., Oppé T. E. Dietary factors in neonatal calcium homoeostasis. Lancet. 1970 Dec 26;2(7687):1333–1335. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)92359-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cook R. C., Rickham P. P. Neonatal intestinal obstruction due to milk curds. J Pediatr Surg. 1969 Dec;4(6):599–605. doi: 10.1016/0022-3468(69)90486-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DAY R. L., CALIGUIRI L., KAMENSKI C., EHRLICH F. BODY TEMPERATURE AND SURVIVAL OF PREMATURE INFANTS. Pediatrics. 1964 Aug;34:171–181. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Daily W. J., Klaus M., Meyer H. B. Apnea in premature infants: monitoring, incidence, heart rate changes, and an effect of environmental temperature. Pediatrics. 1969 Apr;43(4):510–518. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Davidson M., Levine S. Z., Bauer C. H., Dann M. Feeding studies in low-birth-weight infants. I. Relationships of dietary protein, fat, and electrolyte to rates of weight gain, clinical courses, and serum chemical concentrations. J Pediatr. 1967 May;70(5):695–713. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(67)80320-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Davies P. A. Later progress of 100 infants weighing 1,000 to 2,000g. at birth fed immediately with breast milk. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1968 Dec;10(6):725–735. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1968.tb02970.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. GOSSET I. H. A perspex icterometer for neonates. Lancet. 1960 Jan 9;1(7115):87–88. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(60)92902-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gruenwald P. Growth of the human fetus. I. Normal growth and its variation. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1966 Apr 15;94(8):1112–1119. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(66)90774-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hey E. N., Katz G. The optimum thermal environment for naked babies. Arch Dis Child. 1970 Jun;45(241):328–334. doi: 10.1136/adc.45.241.328. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. SMALLPEICE V., DAVIES P. A. IMMEDIATE FEEDING OF PREMATURE INFANTS WITH UNDILUTED BREAST-MILK. Lancet. 1964 Dec 26;2(7374):1349–1352. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)91152-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Valman H. B., Brown R. J., Palmer T., Oberholzer V. G., Levin B. Protein intake and plasma amino-acids of infants of low birth weight. Br Med J. 1971 Dec 25;4(5790):789–791. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5790.789. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Ziegler E. E., Fomon S. J. Fluid intake, renal solute load, and water balance in infancy. J Pediatr. 1971 Apr;78(4):561–568. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(71)80456-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES