Postnatal Growth in Infants Born Between 700 and 1,500 g

Abstract

SummaryOur purpose was to examine postnatal growth in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (n = 54). A high frequency of intrauterine growth retardation was noted that was corrected by plotting birth weight against crown‐heel length and not gestational age. No differences in postnatal growth were noted between infants whose size was appropriate for gestational age (n = 37) and those small for gestational age (n = 17). Overall, growth tended to exceed that previously published. Weight but not length or head gain was less in the smaller (≤ 1,000 g) when compared to the larger (> 1,000 g) VLBW infant. Poorer weight gain could not be related to more “illness” or less nutrient intake in the smaller infants.