Abstract

Enteral nutrition has significant role in gastro intestinal system maturation. At some centres enteral nutrition among preterm neonates is getting delayed to initiate with concern that initiation of feeding before passing of meconium may not be tolerated well and may increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis. Material and Methods: Preterm neonates got either enteral or parenteral nutrition as per their nutritional methods as advised by neonatologist, were analysed as 2 groups. Group -1 with preterm neonates in whom feeding was initiated before passage of meconium and Group -2 with preterm neonates in whom feeding initiated after passage of meconium. Incidence of NEC, time taken to achieve full feeds and duration of hospital stay were analysed among two groups. Results: Incidence of NEC, among neonates in whom feeding was started before passage of meconium was 10.5%, in comparison to 9.5% in whom feeding was started after passage of meconium (RR 95% CI 0.4250 to 2.9137). There is no statistically significant increase in risk of NEC with initiation of enteral nutrition before passage of meconium. Preterm neonates in whom feeding initiated before passage of meconium had earlier achievement of full feeds (95% CI 0.1258 to 3.2182) and shorter duration of hospital stay(95% CI 0.0605 to 3.9875) in comparison with preterm neonates in whom feeding initiated after passage of meconium. Conclusion: Initiation of feeding before passage of meconium in a hemodynamically stable preterm neonates does not increase the risk of NEC. Preterm neonates in whom feeding initiated before passage of meconium had earlier achievement of full feeds and shorter duration of hospital stay in comparison with preterm neonates in whom feeding initiated after passage of meconium.

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