Postnatal Growth Restriction Is Reduced If Birth Weight Is Used for Nutritional Calculations in ELBW Infants.

Since fluid and nutrition needs and delivery in ELBW infants are calculated based on their body weights, there could be a measurable difference in fluid, nutrition, and protein intake calculations based on birth weight (BW) or current weight of the infant, especially in the first two weeks of life. Theoretically, the use of current daily weight (CW) for calculations may result in decreased fluid, nutrition, and protein delivery as well as a cumulative protein deficit (cPD) over the first two weeks of life until the infant regains birth weight. However, there have been no clinical studies comparing the clinical and nutritional impact of these two strategies is unknown.

Evaluation of Nursing School Educators' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Infant Sleep Safety.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate nursing educators' attitudes and knowledge regarding current American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment.

Method: This was a cross-sectional prospective survey of all nursing programs with associate degrees or higher in the United States. Instructors teaching pediatric and obstetric didactic or clinical material at an Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing-approved nursing school could participate.

Reduction in the incidence of chronic lung disease in very low birth weight infants: results of a quality improvement process in a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: Our objective was to reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease by introducing potentially better practices in our delivery room and NICU.

Methods: We compared the incidences of chronic lung disease in infants with birth weights of 501 to 1500 g in 2002 and 2005, after implementation of the changes. Medical records for infants of 501 to 1500 g who were born in 2002 and 2005 were reviewed for maternal characteristics, care of the infant in the delivery room and the NICU (including surfactant usage, duration of ventilation, duration of continuous positive airway pressure therapy, and duration of oxygen treatment), length of stay, and short-term clinical outcomes (eg, pneumothorax, severe intracranial hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, and weight gain).