The FEED1 trial
FEED1 has completed recruitment.The results are available below.
Please click the video below to hear Shalini Ojha present the FEED1 results
The FEED1 trial shows that babies born 8 to 10 weeks early can be full milk fed from the day of birth without increasing the risk of complications and with a small but significant reduction in need for invasive procedures such as intravenous lines and parenteral nutrition.
The full report of the results has been published in the Journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health and can been accessed, free of charge, here.
The press release can be accessed here.
Summary of the study
In the UK around eight in 100 babies are born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), and around 12% of these are born at 30 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. Babies who are born this early cannot feed for themselves and are given small amounts of milk through a tube into their stomach.
In the past, premature babies have not been started on full milk feeds because of concerns of a serious bowel disease called Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC), however, growing evidence suggested that in premature babies who aren’t too poorly, larger milk feeds can be successfully given without increasing the risk of NEC.
Between October 2019 and July 2024, 2,088 babies from 46 NHS hospitals in the UK participated in the FEED1 trial. 1,047 were randomised to have full milk feeds and 1,041 were gradually fed and had intravenous nutrition.
The findings show that although babies in both groups needed to stay in the hospital for about 30-35 days, but babies fully milk fed from day one needed fewer medical interventions such as fewer intravenous lines, fewer days of intravenous nutrition and less time in intensive care without any increase in the risk of low blood glucose levels, NEC, or infections.
We believe these findings will help improve clinical care of babies born early. Stable babies born at or above 30 weeks should be fully milk fed from the day of birth without the need for intravenous nutrition, so they get the best possible, evidence-based care and benefit from having fewer painful procedures.
The study was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment award (HTA17/94/31).
What is the FEED1 trial?
In the UK around 8 in 100 babies are born prematurely, and around 12% of these are born between 30 and 33 weeks.
Babies who are born early cannot feed for themselves and are given small amounts of milk through a tube into their stomach. These babies are also given additional nutrition through a drip into their veins (intravenously or IV). The amount of milk given is slowly increased until they are fully milk fed and no longer have the need for any additional nutrients. For the purpose of this study, we will refer to this method as “gradual milk feeds”.
In the past, premature babies have not been started on full milk feeds because of concerns of a serious bowel disease called Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC), however, evidence is building to suggest that in premature babies who aren’t too poorly, larger milk feeds can be successfully given without increasing the risk of NEC, and might also reduce the risk of severe infection.
We are trying to find out the best way to feed babies born between 30 and 33 weeks to keep them healthy in the long term. We want to know whether starting babies on full milk feeds rather than gradually increasing their milk feeds will:
- Reduce the number of days they need to stay in hospital Reduce the risk of infection
- Allow the mother to be more involved in caring for the baby
- Increase parent-infant bonding
- Promote and encourage breast feeding from an earlier stage
- Make more space in the hospital for other sick babies
- Reduce the costs to the parents and to the NHS
To answer these questions, we need to conduct a large study to compare full milk feeds and gradual milk feeds.
Who is organising and funding this study?
The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust are the sponsor of this study. The study is coordinated by the Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit.
The study is funded by the research arm of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme.
The FEED1 team includes doctors, midwives, parents of preterm babies, health economists, and clinical trial experts. See full details of our team here.
The study is supported by Bliss, UK’s largest charity for babies born sick and preterm.
Further information:
Further information for Parents and Families
Further information for Health Care Professionals
Recruitment Total
Recruitment for this study has now stopped.
2088 babies are taking part in FEED1
To view the recruitment figures please click here.
Thank you for your continued support
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