Summary

The gastric residual (GR) volume was measured in 50 healthy preterm babies, 38 appropriate-for-dates (AFD), and 12 small-for-dates (SFD) with gestationa! age of 28-36 weeks. The mean basal 4-hour gastric residual (B4 GR) volume was 2.8 ± 0.63 ml in parenterally fed babies. There was a marked decrease in the residuals from 20.7 ± 15.2 per cent (mean ± SD) on day 4to 8.6 + 4.3 per cent on day 7(/'<0.001). Of the 27 infants fed with expressed breastmilk (EBM), mean GR was 24.4 ± 10.2 per cent in supine and 12.8 ± 4 3 per cent in prone position (P<0.01). Twenty-one babies nursed in the prone position showed a mean GR volume of 12.8 + 4 3 per cent with EBM and 13.6 + 2.7 per cent with milk formula. No difference was noted in the gastric residuals of AFD v. SFD babies. No linear correlation was found between increase in abdominal girth and GR. However, if the increase in abdominal girth was at least 2 cm or more, a GR of 23 per cent or more was observed. This should be taken as warnings to reduce or withhold oral feeds