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Effect of four approaches to oral feeding progression on clinical outcomes in preterm infants

Rita H Pickler1, Barbara A Reyna2, Paul A Wetzel3

  • 1Nursing Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 11016, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

Nursing Research and Practice
|May 23, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Starting oral feedings later in preterm infants may lead to faster discharge. A consistent feeding approach may support infant development and shorten hospital stays.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Infant Development

Background:

  • Preterm infants often require gavage feeding due to immature oral feeding skills.
  • Transitioning to full oral feedings is a critical step in preterm infant care.
  • Optimizing the timing and approach to oral feeding transition is essential for timely discharge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of different timing strategies (early vs. late start) and feeding experiences (slow vs. maximum) on oral feeding transition in preterm infants.
  • To determine the effect of these approaches on time to discharge and infant weight gain.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized experimental design involving 86 preterm infants.
  • Four intervention groups were established based on postmenstrual age at feeding start (32 vs. 34 weeks) and feeding intensity (slow vs. maximum).
  • Outcomes measured included time to full oral feeding, time to discharge, and weight gain.

Main Results:

  • Infants in the 'late start/maximum experience' group achieved full oral feeding and hospital discharge significantly sooner than those in the 'early start' groups.
  • The 'late start/maximum experience' group also showed a trend towards faster outcomes compared to the 'late start/slow progressing experience' group.
  • No significant differences in weight gain were observed across the four intervention groups.

Conclusions:

  • Initiating oral feedings later (34 weeks' postmenstrual age) may expedite the transition to full oral feeding and shorten hospitalization for preterm infants.
  • A consistent and potentially more intensive oral feeding approach could benefit infant neurodevelopment and reduce length of stay.
  • Further research may explore optimal feeding strategies tailored to individual preterm infant needs.

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