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Are infant behavioural feeding difficulties associated with congenital heart disease?
C Clemente1, J Barnes, E Shinebourne
1Leopold Muller Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, UK.
Insights
Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) experience distinct feeding challenges, including increased breathlessness and vomiting, impacting their growth. These difficulties stem from the condition itself, not mother-infant interaction issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infant Nutrition
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) can significantly impact an infant's overall health and development.
- Feeding is a critical process for infant growth and well-being, and may be affected by underlying medical conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare feeding patterns and identify specific feeding difficulties in infants with CHD versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the relationship between feeding challenges and infant growth in the context of CHD.
Main Methods:
- A matched case-controlled study involving 64 infants with CHD and 64 healthy controls.
- Parental questionnaires were utilized to gather data on feeding methods and difficulties.
Main Results:
- Infants with CHD showed altered feeding patterns, with mothers more frequently using bottle-feeding.
- Specific feeding difficulties in infants with CHD included increased breathlessness and vomiting during meals, but less spitting.
- Infants with CHD exhibited significantly reduced growth compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Feeding difficulties in infants with CHD are primarily linked to the organic nature of the disease.
- Mothers of infants with CHD may require professional support to manage feeding routines and overcome associated challenges.
Aim:
To compare the feeding patterns and difficulties of infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) and healthy controls. Information was gathered via parental questionnaires.
Methods:
A matched case controlled study of 64 infants with CHD compared with 64 healthy controls.
Results:
The main findings were: (1) Feeding patterns: mothers with infants with CHD used bottle-feeding as a first method of feeding their babies more often (CHD, 20%, controls, 2%); (2) Specific feeding difficulties: (a) infants with CHD were significantly more breathless when feeding (CHD = 16%, controls, 0%), (b) had more vomiting at mealtimes (CHD = 23%, controls = 11%), but (c) had significantly less spitting (CHD = 19%, controls, 41%); and (3) infants with CHD showed significantly reduced growth.
Conclusions:
The feeding difficulties are related to the organic condition and not specific difficulties in mother-infant interaction. Professional support may be required for mothers of infants with CHD to maintain feeding routines and to deal with the difficulties that arise.