Intravenous nutrition (IVN) and fluids calculator: preterm infants
This calculator is designed to provide maximal nutritional intakes in the majority of infants who require IVN that can be provided by the National Women's NICU standard IVN solutions.
Standard solutions are designed to meet the infant's usual nutritional requirements in a relatively small volume of fluid intake. Therefore, there is a maximum daily intake of the IVN solutions, and additional fluids are titrated above this to meet the infant's fluid needs.
A Starter solution is to be used for infants <1000g who receive IVN in the first 2-3 days of life. Starter solution is free of sodium and potassium. Starter solution is limited to 30ml/kg/day.
For very preterm infants older than 2-3 days of age, and those larger infants who require IVN, P100 solution should be used. P100 is usually given at a maximum volume of 96ml/kg/day, which will provide 4.0g/kg/day of protein.
Occasional infants will require an individualised IVN solution.
Please consider carefully whether the infant requires IVN or whether 10% glucose (with or without additives) can be used. In general, larger infants (>1500g) who are expected to feed quickly should not be prescribed IVN.