Postdischarge feeding patterns in early- and late-preterm infants.

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Preterm birth is associated with various developmental challenges.
• Feeding dysfunction is a common complication in preterm infants.
• Differentiating feeding issues between early and late preterm infants is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of postdischarge feeding dysfunction.
• To evaluate hospital/subspecialty visits for feeding problems in the first year of life.
• To compare outcomes between early-preterm (25-33 6/7 weeks) and late-preterm (34-36 6/7 weeks) infants.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving questionnaires for parents of early (n=319) and late (n=571) preterm infants.
• Data collected at 3, 6, and 12 months corrected age.
• Assessed infant feeding skills, comfort, and healthcare utilization using χ(2) tests and Spearman's correlations.

Main Results:

• Early preterms showed higher rates of oromotor dysfunction at 3 and 12 months (29% vs 17% and 7% vs 4%, respectively).
• Early preterms also exhibited more avoidant feeding behavior at 3 months (33% vs 29%).
• Both groups demonstrated improvement in oromotor dysfunction and feeding behaviors over time; hospitalization rates were similar.

Conclusions:

• Feeding dysfunction, particularly oromotor issues, is more prevalent in early preterm infants.
• While feeding problems improve, continued monitoring is warranted.
• Pediatricians should implement universal screening for feeding dysfunction in all preterm infants during their first year.