Growth monitoring and supplements for low-birth-weight infants
THE CONTEXT
Regular growth monitoring assesses nutritional status and feeding adequacy and identifies infants with inadequate weight gain. The accompanying supplement table applies to birth weights of 1500–2499 g.
Monitoring schedule
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Weigh all low-birth-weight infants daily or every other day until discharge.
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Record length and head circumference weekly.
Early weight changes
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During the first seven days, term low-birth-weight infants tend to lose about 10% of their weight, while preterm low-birth-weight infants tend to lose about 15%.
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Birth weight is regained by 10–14 days.
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After birth weight is regained, the stated weight-gain target is at least 15–20 g/kg/day; the supplied passage does not complete the endpoint for this target.
Supplements for birth weights of 1500–2499 g
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Give vitamin D as multivitamin drops or syrup at 400 IU/day from 2 weeks to 1 year of age.
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Give iron as drops or syrup at 2 mg/kg/day, with a maximum of 15 mg, from 6–8 weeks to 1 year of age.