Prematurity

Related Education for Professionals

Premature infant sleeping in a hospital bed Premature infant sleeping in a hospital bed
Gastric Aspirate Color Interpretation in the NICU

Lauren Siebenaler, DNP, NNP-BC, and Deborah Steward, PhD, RN, discuss the subjective nature of identifying the color “bilious” in gastric residuals, explain the impact of the subjectivity of identifying bilious gastric residuals, and review recommendations for developing standardized clinical practice guidelines for assessment and management of feeding intolerance in the NICU.

Implementing a Probiotics Feeding Protocol

In this video, Jeffrey Loughead, MD, FAAP, shares his experience from developing a probiotic program and protocol in the NICU.

The Microbiome and the Preterm Infant: Gut Immaturity and Dysbiosis

An infographic that outlines the risk of dysbiosis—the abnormal colonization or the imbalance of microbes—developing in the preterm infant’s immature gut, as well as the role the microbiome can play in promoting better health while lowering the risk for adverse health consequences.

Preterm Infant Clinical Growth Assessment: Growth Velocity

Dr Groh-Wargo discusses the critical steps in preterm infant clinical growth assessment to calculate growth velocity, assess catch-up growth, evaluate growth charts, and monitor for extrauterine growth restriction. She also reviews the new international growth standards for intrauterine growth of preterm infants developed by the INTERGROWTH-21st Project, and Z-scores for monitoring growth trajectories.

Related Clinical Research

SARS-CoV-2 Exposure from Healthcare Workers to Infants

This study evaluated the risk and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from positive healthcare workers to infants in the NICU and the postnatal ward.

Improved Outcomes in Preterm Infants Fed a Nonacidified Liquid Human Milk Fortifier: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

A controlled study with the goal of comparing growth, feeding tolerance, and clinical and biochemical evaluations in human milk-fed preterm infants who received either an acidified or nonacidified liquid human milk fortifier.

Schanler RJ, Groh-Wargo SL, Barrett-Reis B, White RD, Ahmad KA, Oliver J, Baggs G, Williams L, Adamkin D. J Pediatr. 2018;202:31-37.e2.

Probiotics and Preterm Infants: A Position Paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition Committee (ESPGHAN) on Nutrition and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition Working Group for Probiotics and Prebiotics

This ESPGHAN probiotic meta-analysis paper identifies strains with high efficacy and addresses safety issues of probiotic supplementation to preterm infants, who have reduced immunological capacities and occasional indwelling catheters.

van den Akker C, van Goudoever JB, Shamir R, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2020;70(5):664-680. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000002655

Growth and Tolerance of Preterm Infants Fed a New Extensively Hydrolyzed Liquid Human Milk Fortifier

This study was a comparison of growth and tolerance in premature infants fed either standard powdered human milk fortifier (HMF) or a newly formulated concentrated liquid that contained extensively hydrolyzed protein.

Kim, JH, Chan, G, Schanler, R, Groh-Wargo, S, Bloom, B, Dimmit, R, Williams, L, Baggs, G, & Barrett-Reis, B (2015). Growth and Tolerance of Preterm Infants Fed a New Extensively Hydrolyzed Liquid Human Milk Fortifier. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 61(6), 665–671. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000001010

Related Nutrition Resources

Count on Similac® for Evidence-Based, Innovative Nutrition Products

An extensive portfolio of science-based nutrition products with clinical results aids nutrition-challenged and very low-birth-weight NICU infants.

Premature Infant Nutrition Infographic

A descriptive infographic of a preterm infant's catch-up growth essentials and their benefits.

Customizable Solutions for Individualized Outcomes

Flexible, science-based solutions to meet the needs of your patients with customizable solutions for individualized outcomes.

Product Solutions

Similac® NeoSure® group products Similac® NeoSure® group products

Similac® NeoSure®

A 22 Cal/fl oz, nutrient-enriched* formula for babies who were born prematurely. Designed to be used as a preterm post-discharge formula.

* Increased protein, vitamins, and minerals compared to term infant formula.

Similac® Human Milk Fortifier Concentrated Liquid Similac® Human Milk Fortifier Concentrated Liquid

Similac® Human Milk Fortifier Concentrated Liquid

Intended for premature and low-birth-weight infants as a nutritional supplement to add to human milk.

Similac® Human Milk Fortifier HP Concentrated Liquid Similac® Human Milk Fortifier HP Concentrated Liquid

Similac® Human Milk Fortifier Hydrolyzed Protein Concentrated Liquid

Intended for premature and low-birth-weight infants as a nutritional supplement to add to human milk.

Similac® Special Care® 20 2 FL OZ bottle Similac® Special Care® 20 2 FL OZ bottle

Similac® Special Care® 20

A 20 Cal/fl oz., iron-fortified feeding for growing, low-birth-weight infants and premature infants.

Similac® Special Care® 24 2 FL OZ bottle Similac® Special Care® 24 2 FL OZ bottle

Similac® Special Care® 24

A 24 Cal/fl oz., iron-fortified feeding for growing, low-birth-weight infants and premature infants.

Similac® Special Care® 24 High Protein 2 FL OZ bottle Similac® Special Care® 24 High Protein 2 FL OZ bottle

Similac® Special Care® 24 High Protein

A 24 Cal /fl oz., iron-fortified feeding for growing, low-birth-weight infants and premature infants who may need extra protein to help support growth.

Similac® Special Care® 30 2 FL OZ bottle Similac® Special Care® 30 2 FL OZ bottle

Similac® Special Care® 30

A 30 Cal/fl oz., iron-fortified feeding for growing, low-birth-weight infants and premature infants.

Connect With Your Patients

Healthcare Provider picks up a newborn baby a hospital bassinet Healthcare Provider picks up a newborn baby a hospital bassinet
Similac® NeoSure® Patient Brochure

An overview of NeoSure products which are WIC-eligible.

 
NeoSure Mixing Instructions (English & Spanish versions)

Preparation instructions, visual and written, for mixing Similac NeoSure formula.

 

References: 1. Evereklian M et. al J Pediatr Nurs. May-Jun 2017;34:e10-e16. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2017.02.006. 2. Barfield WD Clin Perinatol. 2018 Sep;45(3):565-577. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2018.05.007.