Feeding issues for mothers of very low-birth-weight, premature infants through the first year

Area of Science:

• Neonatal nutrition
• Pediatric feeding disorders
• Parenting and child development

Background:

• Feeding difficulties are a significant concern for clinicians and parents of premature, very low-birth-weight infants.
• The way feeding issues are described impacts the effectiveness of interventions by families and healthcare professionals.
• A framework is needed to understand and address these feeding challenges comprehensively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and illustrate the use of internal working models of parenting as a framework for assessing infant feeding.
• To explore the meaning, goals, expectations, and intentions related to infant feeding from both nurse and family perspectives.
• To evaluate progress in addressing nutrient intake adequacy in the first year post birth for premature infants.

Main Methods:

• Application of the internal working models of parenting framework by nurses.
• Assessment of infant nutrient intake adequacy.
• Analysis of three case studies involving very low-birth-weight, premature infants and their families.

Main Results:

• The internal working models of parenting framework provides a structured approach to understanding feeding issues.
• The framework facilitates a dual perspective, incorporating both professional and familial viewpoints on infant nutrition.
• Case studies demonstrate the framework's utility in assessing and addressing nutrient intake challenges.

Conclusions:

• Internal working models of parenting offer a valuable tool for clinicians managing feeding issues in premature infants.
• Understanding parental perspectives and expectations is key to effective feeding support.
• Further research is warranted to refine and expand the application of this framework.