OBJECTIVETo investigate the growth and development of very low birth weight (VLBW)/extremely low birth weight (ELBW) preterm infants within the corrected age of 6 months and the effect of different feeding patterns on growth and development.

METHODSA total of 109 VLBW/ELBW preterm infants who were discharged from January 2016 to April 2017 and who had completed regular follow-up were enrolled, and their growth and development within the corrected age of 6 months were monitored. The Z-score method was used to evaluate physical indices and analyze the effect of different feeding patterns (breastfeeding group: breast milk + human milk fortifier; mixed feeding group: breast milk + preterm formula milk; artificial feeding: preterm formula milk) on growth and development.

RESULTSThe peaks of weight-for-age Z-score, height-for-age Z-score, weight-for-height Z-score, and BMI-for-age Z-score occurred within the corrected age of 3 months, and the peak of head circumference-for-age Z-score occurred at the corrected age of 5 months. Growth deviation of the infants often occurred within the corrected age of 1-3 months. At the corrected age of 3 months, the breastfeeding group had significantly better body weight, height and head circumference growth than the mixed feeding group and/or the artificial feeding group (P<0.05). At the corrected age of 6 months, the breastfeeding group had significantly better head circumference and body length growth than the mixed feeding group and/or the artificial feeding group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGrowth deviation of VLBW/ELBW preterm infants often occurs within the corrected age of 1-3 months, suggesting that early individualized follow-up and nutritional guidance should be strengthened to reduce growth deviation. Maternal breastfeeding with the addition of human milk fortifier is the best feeding pattern for VLBW/ELBW preterm infants.