Growth velocity of extremely low birth weight preterms at a tertiary neonatal unit in South Africa.

Introduction: There is wide variation in the feeding practices of extreme low birth weight (ELBW) preterms often guided by tradition and resources. The feeding regimen at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) nursery, a tertiary neonatal unit, follows a restricted use of parenteral nutrition and concentrates on early introduction of breast milk. There is a need to determine whether this approach achieves acceptable growth velocity.