The next phase of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project, known as INTERPRACTICE-21st, has now begun. INTERPRACTICE-21st aims to promote optimal postnatal growth of preterm infants by:

(a)   standardising growth measurement in babies born preterm by using the INTERGROWTH-21st international standards

(b)   implementing evidence-based feeding recommendations based on breast feeding. 

We have formed partnerships with leading neonatal units across the world to introduce these interventions in their hospitals and countries, with the ultimate aim of wider dissemination and high-level health policy support. 

Using recommended feeding practices and international standards to monitor postnatal growth and development should help avoid nutritional patterns that may be associated with childhood overweight and obesity, and improve the growth, development and survival of preterm infants.

The support of the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation’ is gratefully acknowledged.

The standards are suitable for monitoring the growth of preterm infants during hospital stay and after discharge up to 64 weeks’ postmenstrual age.

a) Promote the INTERGROWTH-21st evidence-based Feeding Recommendations that are conceptually linked to the standards. 

b) Collect data on the status at hospital discharge and feeding practices of all preterm babies cared for at the participating institution. The methods of data collection are as follows: 

 i.       Collect data using a summary Pregnancy and Delivery form. Enter the data into the Project database using the online data management system. Data will be the property of each individual institution. Aggregated data analysis will be conducted using only the variables that are agreed among the investigators. 

 ii.       Institutions are asked that, after hospital discharge, growth of the preterm infant is monitored using the Preterm Postnatal Standards (copies can be downloaded from the website; alternatively, measures can be plotted directly on the chart online). 

Neonatal units will need to nominate a local contact person to provide information on programme uptake. Technical guidance and implementation support will be provided through regional offices and the central Coordinating Unit in Oxford. 

To participate actively in the Project, we recommend the free e-learning course to be taken by all health professionals providing care to preterm infants in your network or related institutions. All participants will receive a certificate from the University of Oxford/Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research on successful completion of the course.