Biochemical Development and Nutrition of the Newborn

Abstract

Considerable advances in obstetric and neonatal care during recent years have markedly increased the survival of low birth weight infants. We are, however, still confronted with the important question of the quality of the long-term outcome of the babies who survive. In the past many follow-up studies on small, prematurely born infants have revealed a high frequency of both physical and mental handicaps, and the general view of the long-term outcome has been fairly pessimistic. It is obvious that most of our efforts should be concentrated on the prevention of premature labor, but before the prematures can be completely eliminated we are faced with the problems of intensive care of these infants, and there is a very real possibility that outcome is to a great extent related to postnatal care and nursery routines. There is increasing evidence that feeding regimens used may be of importance for the development of the low birth weight infant.