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Abstract

A randomized, prospective, family-centered study investigated the outcome of a telephone-based, nutrition intervention that provided monthly nutritional guidance and support to families of infants (N = 25) born at < 1750 g and evaluated the effects of the intervention on the stress level of the infants' mothers. Growth in length normalized at 1-year adjusted age (p = .08) after using regression modeling to control for the effects of broncho-pulmonary dysplasia. Maternal stress related to parental expectations was negatively correlated with the intervention (p = .027). Infants' 24-hour recall at 4 months was pooled, and the mean, which was 117 kcal/kg, was significantly above the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for age (p = .008). Results suggest that interventions focusing on early catch-up growth and ensuring that preterm infants have an intake higher than the RDA for age in the first few months of life may normalize growth and developmental outcomes and decrease maternal stress.

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Clinical Observations: A Nutrition Intervention With Families of Low-Birth-Weight Infants

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