Comparison 1. Re‐feeding versus discarding gastric residual.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Time to regain birth weight (days)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 All Infants	1	59	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.40 [‐2.89, 3.69]
1.2 Infants fed only human milk	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.80 [‐5.51, 1.91]
1.3 Infants fed formula milk	1	18	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	3.0 [‐4.03, 10.03]
2 Number of Infants with NEC stage 2 or 3 and/or SIP	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 All Infants	1	72	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.71 [0.25, 2.04]
2.2 Infants fed only human milk	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.06, 14.50]
2.3 Infants fed formula milk	1	22	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.8 [0.29, 2.21]
3 Time to reach full enteral feeds (120 mL/kg/d)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 All Infants	1	59	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.30 [‐2.93, 0.33]
3.2 Infants fed only human milk	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.60 [‐2.90, 1.70]
3.3 Infants fed formula milk	1	18	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.90 [‐5.50, 1.70]
4 Number of infants with episodes of interruption of feeds ≥ 12 hours	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 All infants	1	59	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.42, 1.52]
4.2 Infants fed only human milk	1	41	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.45, 2.46]
4.3 Infants fed formula milk	1	18	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.5 [0.18, 1.40]
5 Number of infants with weight < 10th percentile at discharge	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 All infants	1	59	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.29 [0.38, 4.34]
5.2 Infants fed only human milk	1	41	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.58 [0.29, 8.46]
5.3 Infants fed formula milk	1	18	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.0 [0.18, 5.63]
6 Number of TPN days	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 All infants	1	59	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐0.30 [‐2.07, 1.47]
6.2 Infants fed only human milk	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.20 [‐2.15, 2.55]
6.3 Infants fed formula milk	1	18	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.20 [‐5.04, 2.64]
7 Mortality before discharge	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 All infants	1	72	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.5 [0.14, 1.85]
7.2 Infants fed only human milk	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.64 [0.12, 3.50]
7.3 Infants fed formula milk	1	22	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.33 [0.04, 2.73]
8 Duration of hospital stay (days)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
8.1 All infants	1	59	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐1.90 [‐25.27, 21.47]
8.2 Infants fed only human milk	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐10.00 [‐37.97, 13.97]
8.3 Infants fed formula milk	1	18	Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	51.0 [‐8.61, 110.61]