Post-Discharge Nutrition in Preterm Infants: Balancing Growth and Long-Term Health

Preterm infants need careful nutritional support post-discharge to promote healthy catch-up growth and support brain development. Their growth status at birth helps guide monitoring and feeding decisions, with weight, length, and head circumference tracked using clinical tools like the Fenton and WHO growth charts. Many infants, especially those with growth faltering, may benefit from fortified human milk, nutrient-dense feeds or preterm/post-discharge formulas to meet higher calorie and protein needs. Studies show that enriched and two-stage formulas with HMOs can safely support proportional growth. Vitamin D and iron supplements are also important to prevent common deficiencies in very low birth weight infants. Complementary foods should begin around 4–6 months corrected age, guided by developmental readiness. Together, these measures help preterm infants achieve healthier long-term outcomes.