Reply

We thank Saxena et al for their thoughtful comments and suggestions. We agree that the issue of gastric residual volume evaluation for feeding advancement is important in infants of very low birth weight. However, a significantly larger proportion of infants born preterm have a birth weight >1500 g, yet there is a scarcity of evidence about the significance of gastric residual volumes and feeding advancement even in this relatively low-risk population group. Also, in many neonatal units including our center, it was the standard of care to rely on gastric residual volumes in decisions relating to the advancements of enteral feeds in all infants born preterm who required gavage feeds.

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