Very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) need adequate nutrition to meet their rapid growth and development, but also need to pay attention to the risk of feeding intolerance and related complications in the course of nutritional support. This study is investigate the effects of early breast milk microfeeding on the growth and feeding intolerance of VLBWI, so as to provide a reasonable method for nutritional treatment of VLBWI in the future.

A total of 92 VLBWI admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2021 to April 2023 were selected as the research objects. According to the feeding method, they were divided into observation group (56 cases) and control group (36 cases). Both groups received intravenous nutrition support, the observation group was given early breast milk microfeeding, and the control group was given routine feeding. The growth and development status and gastrointestinal function of the two groups were observed and compared.

The oral feeding time [(6.8±0.4) d], the total enteral feeding time [(13.7±1.2) d] and the hospitalization time [(38.1±3.5) d] in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t=-8.572, -9.113, -6.028, P<0.05). The growth rate of body length [(0.93±0.15) cm/week], head circumference [(0.67±0.06) cm/week] and body weight [(18.75±2.87) g/(kg·d)] in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=4.442, 2.571, 4.861, P<0.05). The recovery time of birth weight in the observation group [(8.1±1.3) d] was significantly lower than that in the control group (t=-7.522, P<0.05). The incidence of vomiting and gastric retention in the observation group (8.9% and 8.9%, respectively) was significantly lower than that in the control group (χ²=5.705, 8.664, P<0.05).

Early breast milk microfeeding can significantly improve the growth and development of VLBWI, reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal feeding intolerance, and shorten the length of hospital stay.