Support With or without Formula Trial for at-risk infants (SWIFT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Support With or without Formula Trial for infants at risk of hypoglycaemia (SWIFT): a pilot and feasibility trial
IRAS ID
302139
Contact name
Janet Berrington
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN16997288
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
Newborn babies may be at-risk of developing low blood sugars (hypoglycaemia) if they are born a few weeks premature (32-36 weeks of pregnancy), low birthweight (less than 2.5kg), or if their mother has pregnancy complications such as poor fetal (baby) growth or diabetes. Many of these babies/pregnancies are detected during pregnancy but some may occur without warning. Most of these babies are able to tolerate milk, especially mother's breastmilk, from the first day, but sometimes the amount of breastmilk produced in the first few days is of insufficient volume to meet the babies needs. In this case the baby is at-risk of developing low blood sugar levels which may further worsen feeding or may harm the baby. For this reason, such babies are offered extra milk according to national guidelines which can be formula or donor human milk. Where formula milk is used as a supplement, there is a concern that this may adversely impact on continued breastfeeding. We want to study whether the type of milk offered impacts on the establishment of successful breastfeeding.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0020
Date of REC Opinion
9 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion