Improving Provider Confidence in Late Preterm Infant Nutrition

Approximately 10% of births in the United States are currently premature, before 37 weeks gestational age, predisposing a significant portion of the pediatric population to chronic health conditions. Growth is arguably one of the most important contributing factors to favorable outcomes for these patients, but protocols for optimizing growth in the primary care setting are sporadic and inconsistent. A literature review was conducted to investigate available evidence regarding nutritional recommendations for premature patients, factors influencing growth, and provider attitudes about nutrition and caring for patients with complex health needs. Nutrition protocols for premature patients may have significant potential to increase provider confidence and positively impact growth outcomes in pediatric patients born prematurely.