The growth and development of low birth weight infants receiving intensive neonatal care. Preliminary observations on 28 such infants.

This study reports the growth and development of 28 survivors who had a birth weight of less than or equal to 1,000 g and were cared for at a Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Only eight (30%) had neurologic abnormalities including spastic hemiparesis, retrolental fibroplasia, hydrocephalus, motor retardation, and some delay in language skills. The other survivors had normal physical examinations and developmental progress judged by a variety of screening examinations up to age four years, three months. The average caloric intake during the first week was 61 kg/da, although over half never reached that level until day 4. Nearly all the infants have had standard growth patterns thus far.