Early Predictors of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Neonates

The goal of this project is to identify neonates who are predisposed to Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). the investigators will determine the effectiveness of non-invasive measures as well as biochemical markers to identify neonates early in the disease process. Thus, the investigators aim to identify infants with NEC prior to the onset of symptoms to institute or test treatments in the long term to prevent the progression of the disease in these infants.

Inclusion Criteria: * Infants born at ≤30 weeks gestational age and/or * Infants with a birth weight ≤1500 grams Exclusion Criteria: * gestational age at birth greater than 30 weeks * obvious dysmorphic syndromes * any abdominal wall defect including omphalocele or gastroschisis * any known intestinal atresia * complex cardiac abnormalities * any known lethal chromosomal abnormalities