A major UK study has found that babies born eight to ten weeks early can safely receive milk through a feeding tube from birth, rather than needing intravenous (IV) nutrition.
Published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, the FEED1 trial marks a breakthrough in neonatal care, showing that early milk feeding is safe and may reduce the need for painful medical procedures.
Rethinking Early Feeding
Preterm babies born between 30 and 32 weeks are often given IV fluids while milk feeds are slowly increased. Researchers wanted to know if full milk feeding from day one could be just as safe, or even better, for these babies.
The trial involved 2,088 infants from 46 NHS hospitals between October 2019 and July 2024. Babies were randomly assigned to either:
Full milk feeds (60–80 mL/kg per day from birth), or
Gradual feeds with IV fluids.
The Results
The study found no difference in hospital stay length (around 32 days in both groups).
Rates of survival, infection, low blood sugar, and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) were also the same.
Babies given full milk feeds needed fewer medical interventions and spent less time in intensive care, allowing parents to be more involved in their care.
Expert Views
Professor Shalini Ojha, Professor of Neonatal Medicine at the University of Nottingham and Honorary Consultant Neonatologist at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“The FEED1 trial answers important questions for the care of preterm babies – the results mean babies born eight-ten weeks early can be milk fed from the start, will not need intravenous nutrition, and will likely spend less time in intensive care.”
Josie Anderson, Policy, Research and Campaigns Manager at Bliss, added:
“These important findings have shown that babies can receive full milk feeds safely, without any compromise to their health while on the neonatal unit. We believe these findings will help improve clinical practice for babies born from 30 weeks, ensuring they can receive the best possible care and benefit from having fewer painful procedures.
Why It Matters
Around 8 in 100 UK babies are born prematurely. The FEED1 findings mean those born from 30 weeks can be milk fed from day one, helping families bond sooner and reducing stress in the neonatal unit.
The research was led by the University of Nottingham, UHDB NHS Foundation Trust, and Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, funded by NIHR, and supported by Bliss.
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