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| |    Feeding Preemies: An Overview by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Feeding premature babies can be a challenge. The degree of difficulty depends on how early the baby was born, whether medical problems exist, and if so, the severity of those problems. Immediately after birth, the goal is to stabilize the baby's medical condition. Once this has been accomplished, the practitioner and the nursery staff will discuss with parents how best to feed their baby to achieve proper growth and development of his tiny body. Although newborns in general grow substantially during their first 12 months, the process is especially accelerated for preemies: A premature baby's birth weight often increases tenfold in the first year of life; in comparison, full-term babies usually only triple their birth weight over that same period of time. Necessary nutrients Frequently, premature babies are born before their bodies have had the chance to store certain important nutrients needed for growth, including iron; fat; protein; vitamins A, D, and E; calcium; phosphorous; magnesium; and other trace minerals. It's essential that these nutrients be provided after birth for proper body functioning and to create some stores. Common issues Even when important nutrients are supplied to a premature infant, it's often difficult for his immature organs and tissues to digest and absorb them. A preemie's small stomach size and an uncoordinated suck and swallow pattern can further complicate the situation. Babies who are born extremely early or who have medical problems often must be fed an intravenous solution at first. If that's the case, decisions about what to feed them aren't made until it's determined that the baby can be fed by mouth or via a stomach tube.
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