Feeding the low birth weight baby

The low birth weight baby has an immature alimentary system which causes special feeding problems which need to be tackled in a special way. You must appreciate that in order to make up for his weight deficit, he needs more milk. He also needs additional vitamins, A, C, D, E and K as also iron and folic acid about the first month. As a rule he should receive his first feed early rather than late. Most good centres have a policy to give the feed just 3 hours after birth. If the baby is less than 1200 gms in weight especially when breathing difficulty or abdominal distension are also present, doctors prefer to start intravenous drip in order to give 5 to 10 percent glucose round the clock. Most babies with weight over 1800 gms and some even with less of it are able to suck well from the breast or bottle. Doctors would like you to breast feed such a baby. One precaution feed the baby small amounts but make it at more frequent intervals. Most babies weighing between 1200 and 1800 gms would need to be fed in the hospital through a tube passed through the mouth or the nose into the stomach. This kind of feeding is indicated if the baby becomes quickly tired or takes more than 20 minutes to finish the recommended amount of feed.