Early Progressive Feeding in Human-Milk Fed Extremely Preterm Infants: A Randomized Trial

To test the hypothesis that progressive feeding without minimal enteral feeding (MEF) compared to progressive feeding preceded by a 4-day course of MEF will result in an increased number of days alive on full enteral feeding in the first 28 days after birth in extremely preterm infants receiving human milk.

Qualifying participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study groups: 1) Early progressive feeding without MEF or 2) Progressive feedings preceded by 4 days of MEF. Regardless of study group assignment, donor human milk will be offered if not enough of the mother's expressed breastmilk during the intervention phase of the trial. Intervention group: Progressive feeding of 20-24 ml/kg/d on day 1 of feeding, followed by daily increments of 24-25 ml/kg/d as tolerated until full enteral feeding achieved. Control group: MEF with feeding volumes of 20-24 ml/kg/d for 4 days followed by progressive feeding (daily increments of 24-25 ml/kg/d) as tolerated until full enteral feeding achieved. Both groups will receive fast progressive feeding (>/= 24 ml/kg/day) If parent agrees, stool "dirty" diapers will be collected 5 times (at birth, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of life).

This group will receive feeding volumes of 20-24ml/kg/d of day 1 of feeding followed by the study intervention of daily volume increases in increments of 24-25ml/kg/d as tolerated until full enteral feeding is achieved.

This group will receive minimal enteral feeds (MEF) with volumes of 20-24ml/kg/d for 4 days followed by daily increases in increments of 24-25ml/kg/d as tolerated until full enteral feeding is achieved.

This group will receive feeding volumes of 20-24ml/kg/d of day 1 of feeding followed by the study intervention of daily volume increases in increments of 24-25ml/kg/d as tolerated until full enteral feeding is achieved.

This group will receive minimal enteral feeds (MEF) with volumes of 20-24ml/kg/d for 4 days followed by daily increases in increments of 24-25ml/kg/d as tolerated until full enteral feeding is achieved.

Number of days alive and receiving full enteral feeding according to time of exposure to human milk and formula feeding the first 28 days

interruption or cessation of enteral feeds for a period greater than 12 hours for abnormal abdominal examination

Number of episodes of feeding intolerance resulting in an interruption or cessation of progressive enteral feeding for a period < 12 hours

Inclusion Criteria: admission to the NICU within 48 hours with gestational age between 22.0 and 28.6 weeks Exclusion Criteria: small for gestational age (<10th percentile birthweight), major congenital or chromosomal anomalies, and infants with terminal illness in which decision to withhold or limit support have been made

Salas AA, Li P, Parks K, Lal CV, Martin CR, Carlo WA. Early progressive feeding in extremely preterm infants: a randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018 Mar 1;107(3):365-370. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy012.

Salas AA, Willis KA, Carlo WA, Yi N, Zhang L, Van Der Pol WJ, Younge NE, Lefkowitz EJ, Lal CV. The gut microbiome of extremely preterm infants randomized to the early progression of enteral feeding. Pediatr Res. 2022 Sep;92(3):799-804. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01831-w. Epub 2021 Nov 13.

Durham L, Gunawan E, Nguyen K, Reeves A, Shukla V, Salas AA. Total Fluid Administration and Weight Loss during the First 2 Weeks in Infants Randomized to Early Enteral Feeding after Extremely Preterm Birth. Neonatology. 2023;120(2):257-262. doi: 10.1159/000527430. Epub 2022 Nov 28.