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Nonnutritive sucking during tube feedings: effect on clinical course in premature infants
Insights
Pacifier use during tube feedings accelerated oral feeding readiness in premature infants (28-34 weeks gestation). This intervention led to earlier hospital discharge and improved weight gain, highlighting its potential benefits for neonatal care.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Premature infants often require tube feeding due to immature oral feeding skills.
- Optimizing feeding strategies is crucial for improving outcomes in preterm neonates.
- Pacifier use has been explored for non-nutritive sucking benefits in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of offering a pacifier during tube feedings on feeding progression in preterm infants.
- To assess the impact of pacifier intervention on weight gain and length of hospital stay.
- To compare complications between infants receiving pacifier intervention and those receiving routine care.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 59 infants (28-34 weeks gestation) was conducted.
- Treatment group infants received a pacifier during and after tube feedings.
- Control group infants received standard neonatal care.
Main Results:
- Treatment infants achieved readiness for bottle feeding 3.4 days earlier, requiring 27 fewer tube feedings.
- Treated infants demonstrated a higher daily weight gain (2.6 gm/day) and were discharged 4 days sooner.
- Performance during the initial bottle feeding was comparable between groups, but complication rates differed.
Conclusions:
- Offering pacifiers during tube feedings can accelerate oral feeding progression in preterm infants.
- Pacifier intervention is associated with improved weight gain and reduced length of hospital stay.
- Further investigation into the differential complication rates is warranted.
Abstract:
Fifty-nine infants, 28--34 weeks' gestation, were assigned to treatment and control groups. Treatment infants were offered a pacifier during and following every tube feeding; control infants received routine care. The treatment began when an infant could tolerate room air and 10 cc of full-strength formula by tube; it ended when the infant was totally bottle fed. Treated infants showed readiness for bottle feeding 3.4 days earlier, i.e., with 27 fewer tube feedings each. Performance during the first bottle feeding was assessed with a feeding scale and was statistically similar for both groups. From study entry to first bottle feeding the treated infants gained 2.6 gm/day more and were discharged 4 days sooner. Complications differed between the two groups.