Enteral Feeding of the Preterm Infant

Premature infants commonly suffer from extrauterine growth restriction from inadequate nutrition and the loss of the last months of gestation, a critical period for brain and body growth. Providing optimized nutrition for the premature infant is a crucial task of the neonatologist and has a significant impact on the future growth and neurodevelopment of these infants. Enteral feeding is nuanced in the preterm population and requires specific knowledge of the nutritional requirements of the preterm infant and the various substrates and methods available to achieve proper nutrition.