Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System
06:19

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Oral feeding competences of healthy preterm infants: a review

N Bertoncelli1, G Cuomo, S Cattani

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Modena University Hospital, 41125 Modena, Italy.

International Journal of Pediatrics
|June 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants benefit from interventions that improve alertness and sensorimotor skills for oral feeding. Combined oral and sensorimotor therapies enhance feeding performance and shorten the time to independent feeding.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric nutrition
  • Developmental pediatrics

Background:

  • Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) survival rates have improved due to technological advancements.
  • Preterm infants face significant challenges with nutrition and oral feeding.
  • Oral feeding difficulties are a common concern for infants born prematurely.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors influencing oral feeding readiness and competence in preterm infants.
  • To determine effective interventions for enhancing oral feeding performance.
  • To guide clinical practice for supporting preterm infant feeding.

Main Methods:

  • A literature search was conducted in the MEDILINE database.
  • Relevant articles published between 2009 and 2011 were collected and reviewed.
  • The review focused on factors impacting and interventions for preterm infant oral feeding.

Main Results:

  • Increased infant alertness during feeding positively impacts feeding skills.
  • Oral and non-oral sensorimotor interventions, alone or combined, reduce the time to independent oral feeding.
  • Combined interventions led to superior nutritive sucking and improved suck-swallow and swallow-respiration coordination.

Conclusions:

  • Alertness is crucial for successful oral feeding in preterm infants.
  • Sensorimotor interventions are effective in promoting oral feeding skills.
  • Combined oral and sensorimotor approaches offer the most significant benefits for preterm infant feeding.

More Related Videos

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers09:36

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers

Published on: July 28, 2022

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling07:11

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding01:26

Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding

Enteral nutrition delivers nutrients directly to the stomach or small intestine through a tube. This method is appropriate for patients who cannot eat but still have a functioning digestive system. It is also beneficial for individuals with swallowing difficulties, anorexia, malabsorption, or those who have undergone gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding01:15

Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding

Enteral nutrition encompasses various methods of delivering nutrition directly to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, bypassing traditional oral intake. It is particularly beneficial for patients who cannot eat by mouth but have a functioning digestive system. Key methods include nasointestinal feeding, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy, each suited to different clinical scenarios based on the patient's needs and condition.
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube through...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...