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Neonatal Nutrition

The Neonatal Nutrition Initiative aimed to improve the nutritional status of premature infants through standardized, evidence-based feeding protocols.

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50%

Reduction in the hour of life when total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is initiated (from 3 hours to 1.5 hours)

4x

Reduction in age when first enteric feeding was initiated — from 4 days to 1 day of life

2.6x

The reduction in hour of life when lipids were started (16 to 6 hours).

49%

increase in infants receiving >50% of enteral feeds as breast milk at discharge (43% to 64%).
Why it Matters

Approximately one half of VLBW (birth weight <1500 grams) infants are discharged from the hospital with body weight at <10th percentile

The Neonatal Nutrition Initiative aims to improve the nutritional status of premature infants, particularly Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants, through standardized, evidence-based feeding protocols. These protocols support early enteral feeding, appropriate TPN (total parenteral nutrition) use, and increased breast milk utilization. The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of extra-uterine growth-restricted (EUGR) infants discharged from NICUs across Illinois.

Key Challenge: Approximately half of VLBW infants are discharged weighing below the 10th percentile. This postnatal growth restriction is linked to developmental delays and long-term health risks. These include:

  • Higher rates of rehospitalization in infancy and early childhood

  • Increased risk of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes in adulthood

  • Cardiovascular complications later in life due to early growth restriction

Our Goal

Fewer than 40% of VLBW infants discharged from NICUs should have a weight below the 10th percentile.

 

Results

Key Results from the Neonatal Nutrition Initiative

  • TPN Initiation

    Reduced from 5 hours to <3 hours after birth

  •  Lipid Administration

    Reduced from 23 hours to <12 hours after birth

  • First Enteric Feeding

    Reduced from 3.2 days to <2.3 days of life

  • Achieving Full Enteral Feeds (120ml/kg/day)

    Reduced from 15.2 days to 14.4 days of life