Fluids Exclusively Enteral from Day 1 (FEED1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled trial of full milk feeds versus intravenous fluids with gradual feeding for preterm infants (30-33 weeks gestational age)
IRAS ID
266702
Contact name
Shalini Ojha
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Around 8% of UK babies are born premature at birth and 12% of these are born between 30 and 33 weeks. Currently, most preterm babies are fed through a drip into their veins (intravenous) and given small amounts of milk by a small tube into their stomach, slowly increasing until they are fully milk fed. Doctors are wary of feeding premature babies with full milk straight after birth due to a potentially life-threatening gut condition called necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Evidence suggests that in premature babies who aren't too poorly, larger milk feeds can be successfully given within 48 hours of birth without increasing the risk of NEC and death, and could reduce the risk of severe infection.
We will compare the two different groups: the 'full milk' group will be given milk to provide all their fluid needs from the first day of life and increased over a few days unless they are struggling with this (e.g. if it makes them very sick). In the 'gradual milk' group, babies will be initially fed through their veins, increasing milk feeds slowly and reducing IV fluids until they are fully milk fed, which is current practice.
Mothers will be identified at Antenatal clinic or within 3 hours of early arrival. The groups will be decided at random by a computer giving each baby an equal chance of being in either group.
We want to know if feeding babies on with milk only from the first day of life, avoiding giving them fluids through a drip (IV), can reduce infections, reduce the number of days in hospital and therefore reduce the overall costs to parents and to the NHS.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EM/0258
Date of REC Opinion
16 Sep 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion