TABLE 3.

Recommendations to Prevent Necrotizing Enterocolitis^a

Single course of antenatal corticosteroids49,83,84

Early and preferential use of breast milk or donor milk if mother’s milk is unavailable41,56–59

Standardized feeding guidelines with conservative volumes (20–25 mL/kg per day) to start64,65,82

Awareness of potential risk factors (eg, sepsis, intrauterine growth restriction, hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus treated with indomethacin, formula feeds, H2 blocker therapy)6,64,65

Use ibuprofen instead of indomethacin to close a patent ductus arteriosus25,26

Restrict fluid intake, without compromising hydration and nutrition85

^aAdapted from Patole⁵ and NEC Guideline Team, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.²⁵