Characterization of the transition technique from enteral tube feeding to breastfeeding in preterm newborns

To verify the corrected gestational age when oral feeding (breast half full) and exclusive breastfeeding were initiated in preterm newborns submitted to the transition technique from enteral feeding directly to breastfeeding, and time spent (in days) under speech-language pathology intervention until discharge.

Study participants were 35 preterm infants (PTI) divided into two groups. Group 1 (G1) was composed by 22 PTI who did not present any important medical complications during hospitalization, and Group 2 (G2) comprised 13 PTI with a history of major medical complications. The following data were recorded: gestational age at birth, birth weight, weight and corrected gestational age during speech-language pathology evaluation, corrected gestational age when started oral feeding, number of days stimulated through the non-nutritive sucking (NNS) technique, corrected gestational age when oral feeding started and when they were discharged from speech-language pathology intervention, and total number of days under speech-language pathology intervention.

No differences were found between the groups (G1 and G2) for any of the analyzed parameters. In general, oral feeding started with an average of 36 weeks corrected gestational age. Exclusive oral feeding occurred with an average of 36.6 weeks corrected gestational age. In average, speech-language pathology intervention lasted 12.3 days, and the NNS technique in "gloved finger" or "empty breast" lasted an average of 4.54 days.

The technique allowed the PTI to be discharged in exclusive breastfeeding at a corrected gestational age corresponding to that of healthy term newborns.