Obasa T. O., Mohammed S. S., Ernest S. K., Mokuolu O. A
Preterm babies, due to problems uniquely related to their preterm status, suffer an extrauterine growt h restriction. To determine the degree of extrauterin e growth restriction in babies with gestational age s ≤ 32 weeks managed at the University of Ilorin Teachi ng Hospital, babies with gestational ages ≤ 32 weeks, who survived till the 7 th day of life, and who were exclusively breastfed, w ere recruited. Anthropometric indices were measured till a post me nstrual age of 40 weeks. 117 babies with gestational ages ≤ 32 weeks were admitted during period of study; 61b abies were followed up till completion of the study. Z scores in all gestationa l age groups were normal at birth, but Z scores at 40 weeks post menstrual age was found to be below 10 th percentile in majority of babies. All babies weighed less than the 50 th percentile at a postmenstrual age of 40 weeks. Mos t exclusively breastfed babies delivered at gestational age ≤ 32 weeks remained significantly under grown at 40 th week post menstrual age.
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