Table 2 Infant characteristics by intervention group (n = 178)

Birth characteristics

 Mean gestational age, weeks

28.7 (2.7)

28.7 (2.5)

0.92

 Mean birthweight, grams

1208 (485)

1180 (432)

0.68

 Multiple birth, % (n)

9% (8)

21% (19)

0.02

 Caesarean delivery, % (n)

60% (53)

63% (56)

0.64

 Mean Apgar score 5 min after birth

6.9 (1.8)

6.8 (2.0)

0.69

Clinical interventions during NICU stay

 Ventilation, % (n)

56% (50)

58% (52)

0.76

 Any surgeries, % (n)

25% (22)

24% (21)

0.83

 Mean days on total parenteral nutrition

20.4 (23.6)

24.3 (29.6)

0.32

Clinical diagnoses

 Intraventricular hemorrhage, % (n)

18% (16)

21% (19)

0.57

 Necrotizing enterocolitis, % (n)

9% (8)

10% (9)

0.80

 Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, % (n)

19% (17)

20% (18)

0.85

 Nosocomial infection, % (n)

15% (13)

6% (5)

0.05

 Retinopathy of prematurity, % (n)

37% (33)

31% (28)

0.43

Discharge characteristics

 Discharged on human milk feeding, % (n)

67% (89)

57% (51)

0.16

 Discharged on respiratory or feeding device, % (n)

27% (24)

34% (30)

0.33

 Mean length of hospital stay, days

73.4 (49.0)

77.3 (41.5)

0.57