Nutrition for Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants
More than 1 in 10 of the world’s babies are born prematurely and the rates are increasing, both in developed and developing countries. Developmental immaturity in preterm infants impacts several organs and systems, which can lead to long-term consequences for health, growth and development. Preterm infants have distinct physiological characteristics compared to term infants, which result in high and unique nutritional needs. Adequate nutrition at this stage is crucial to meet the preterm infant needs for proper growth and development.