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Enteral Nutrition in Preterm Infants: ESPGHAN Recommendations

Improve your clinical practice as you discover the evidence-based ESPGHAN recommendations for effective enteral nutrition.

2,564 enrolled on this course

Enteral Nutrition in Preterm Infants: ESPGHAN Recommendations

2,564 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Advanced level

Find out more about how to join this course

Gain an introduction to ESPGHAN

ESPGHAN is the leading global authority on neonatal and infant nutrition. On this four-week course, their experts will help you gain knowledge of nutrient intake based on the latest evidence. You can then use this knowledge to develop a safer and more effective clinical practice. This course is free to join for four weeks, with an optional upgrade cost.

The ESPGHAN CoN (Committee of Nutrition) provides key recommendations that you can take into practice and use to improve clinical care.

You’ll hear directly from neonatal specialists to ensure you finish the course with a sound understanding of enteral nutrition in preterm infants.

Delve into nutrient intake requirements

You’ll start by exploring nutrient intake recommendations including energy, protein, electrolytes, and vitamins.

Whilst investigating the evidence base for nutrient groups, you’ll also be introduced to other common practices, such as feeding modes and growth assessment.

Explore case studies in neonatal care

Unpacking further case studies, you’ll develop the skills to help you compare and contrast your own clinical practice, supported by expert input and the ESPGHAN CoN recommendations.

With this knowledge, you’ll be able to explain areas of uncertainty, such as where evidence-based is too limited to make a firm recommendation.

Develop your understanding of infant nutrition

During the final week of the course, you’ll discover the importance of involving parents and carers in preterm nutrition.

Hearing from personal experiences, you’ll explore breast milk fortification, donor human milk, supplemental bionutrients, and learn how to conduct a holistic assessment of nutritional status.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to deliver more effective care in your clinical neonatal practice.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Macronutrients

    • Members from the ESPGHAN committee of nutrition, above the words 'welcome to the course'.

      Welcome to the course

      This activity offers an introduction to ESPGHAN, our educators on the ESPGHAN Committee of Nutrition (CoN), and will give you the opportunity to interact with other learners on this course.

    • LOE and GOR above the words, 'Introducting the ESPGHAN CoN recommendations'.

      Introducing the ESPGHAN CoN recommendations and conclusions

      In this activity, you will be introduced to the evidence base and grading system for the recommendations and conclusions presented in the ESPGHAN CoN 2022 position paper.

    • The structure of a molecule above the words 'Exploring individual macronutrients'.

      Exploring individual macronutrients

      In this activity, you will learn about the individual macronutrients that are important in neonatal nutrition. You will also learn how to calculate whether intakes meet requirements.

    • Quality vs quantity, above the words, 'end of week 1'.

      End of week 1

      Test your knowledge in the end of week quiz, before our lead educator Professor Nicholas Embleton summarises the key learning points to take away from this week.

  • Week 2

    Vitamins, minerals and micronutrients

    • Water molecules above the words, 'water and electrolytes'.

      Water and electrolytes

      Let's learn about water and electrolytes, and take a look at our first case study.

    • Chemical symbols for magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and iron, above the words, 'minerals, vitamins and trace elements'.

      Minerals, vitamins and trace elements

      In this activity, you will learn about the importance of minerals, vitamins, and trace elements in preterm infant nutrition. Supplement your learning by interacting with 3 different case studies.

    • Function, recommendations and case study, above the words, 'end of week 2'.

      End of week 2

      Test your knowledge with our end of week quiz, then watch a summary of this week's learning as presented by our lead educator Professor Nicholas Embleton.

  • Week 3

    Water-soluble vitamins, feeding mode and growth

    • Molecular structure of various vitamins, above the words, 'water-soluble vitamins'.

      Water-soluble vitamins

      Learn about water-soluble vitamins, osmolality, and hydrolysed protein.

    • A preterm infant on CPAP, above the words, 'approaches to feeding'.

      Approaches to feeding

      Learn about optimal feeding methods for preterm infants, including enteral or parenteral nutrition, nasogastric or orogastric tubes, and bolus or continuous feeding.

    • An infant's head being measured, above the words, 'growth of preterm infants'.

      Growth of preterm infants

      Learn how to measure growth and identify different forms of slow growth, before applying your learning through multiple case studies.

    • Water soluble vitamins, osmolality & hydrolysed protein, feeding approaches and growth, above the words, 'end of week 3'.

      End of week 3

      Test your knowledge of week 3 content and listen to a summary from Professor Nick Embleton.

  • Week 4

    Working with parents and carers

    • A man holding a preterm infant against his chest, above the words, 'involving parents and carers'.

      Involving parents and carers

      In this activity, you will hear personal experiences from parents and learn more about involving parents and carers in preterm nutrition.

    • Bottles of human milk, above the words, 'human milk administration and donation'.

      Human milk administration and donation

      Learn all about breastmilk, donor human milk, supplemental bionutrients and the importance of these in preterm nutrition.

    • An infant being bottle-fed human milk, above the words, 'breastmilk fortification'.

      Breastmilk fortification

      Learn about the importance and individualisation of breastmilk fortification and solidify this learning through a case study discussion.

    • Nutrients, functional components, microbes and 'technical' & socio-behavioural, above the words, 'end of week 4'.

      End of week 4

      Test your knowledge of week 4 content and listen to a summary from our educator Professor Nicholas Embleton.

    • Two nurses watching over a pretern infant inside an incubator, above the words, 'end of course'.

      End of course

      Test your learning with our end of course test.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Debate areas of uncertainty e.g., where evidence base is too limited to make firm recommendations.
  • Describe the risks and benefits of nutrient intakes.
  • Demonstrate interpretation of growth and a practical approach to assessment of nutritional status in the clinic.
  • Describe how the level of evidence and grade of recommendation are defined and applied to the evidence base.
  • Discuss how to adopt a practical approach to clinical challenges.
  • Demonstrate factual understanding of recommended nutritional intakes and acceptable ranges.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for doctors and dieticians working in neonatal units.

It will also be useful for medical staff, students, nursing staff, pharmacists, and dietetic students.

Who will you learn with?

Nicholas Embleton

Professor of Neonatal Medicine with >25 years experience in large NICU. Lead research programmes in neonatal nutrition & work with parents
www.neonatalresearch.net
www.neonatalbutterflyproject.org

Sissel J. Moltu

I am a Consultant Neonatologist and researcher at Oslo University Hospital. My main research interests include the nutritional management of preterm infants and critically ill neonates.

Magnus Domellöf

Professor of Pediatrics at Umeå University and Senior consultant in Neonatology at Umeå University Hospital, Sweden

Who developed the course?

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The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN)

The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition (ESPGHAN) is a multi-professional organisation whose aim is to promote the health of children.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 12 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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