Due to the advances in mechanical ventilation and surfactant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units in recent years, the chance of survival of very low birth weight infants who were previously considered to be nonviable has improved. One of the major obstacles in the care of babies on the edge of viability is to provide adequate nutritional intake. It is usually impossible for babies with birth weight less than 1500 g to catch up the intrauterine growth curve. This article discusses the importance of adequate nutrition, reviews the components of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and makes suggestions concerning initiation of enteral feedings for premature infants.

Keywords: total parenteral nutrition, enteral feeding, newborn