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Randomised oral stimulation and exclusive breastfeeding duration in healthy premature infants
Diana Skaaning1, Emma Carlsen1, Anne Brødsgaard1,2
1Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.
Insights
Oral stimulation did not extend exclusive breastfeeding duration in premature infants. This study suggests focusing on parental education and involvement for better breastfeeding outcomes in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life.
- Danish premature infants have low rates of exclusive breastfeeding (13%).
- Parental involvement in infant care is crucial for successful breastfeeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if systematic oral stimulation by parents can prolong exclusive breastfeeding duration in premature infants.
- To evaluate the long-term effects of oral stimulation on breastfeeding in a neonatal intensive care unit setting.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 211 premature infants was conducted.
- Infants were allocated to either systematic oral stimulation or standard care.
- Exclusive breastfeeding duration was the primary outcome, with follow-up at six months.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in exclusive breastfeeding duration was found between the oral stimulation group (median 122 days) and the control group (median 154 days).
- At six months, 27% of orally stimulated infants and 25% of control infants were exclusively breastfed.
- The intervention showed no statistically significant effect on breastfeeding duration (P=0.16).
Conclusions:
- Oral stimulation by parents does not appear to have a lasting positive effect on breastfeeding duration in healthy premature infants.
- Future efforts should prioritize enhanced parental education and support to improve breastfeeding rates in premature infants.
Aim:
Although exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for all newborn in the first 6 months of life, only 13% of Danish premature infants complies with this. This trial aimed to examine whether oral stimulation prolonged exclusive breastfeeding in premature infants.
Method:
A randomised controlled trial was conducted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark between 2016 and 2018. Systematic oral stimulation was performed by the parents after training by occupational therapists. Primary outcome was exclusive breastfeeding duration with 6 months' follow-up, analysed by intention-to-treat.
Results:
Included were 211 infants (53% boys) with a mean gestational age of 231 days, allocated in ratio 1:1 to oral stimulation or standard care. There was no difference in exclusive breastfeeding duration between infants orally stimulated and control infants. Thus, for orally stimulated infants, median duration was 122 days (interquartile range 40-183) in contrast to 154 days (interquartile range 61-183) for the controls, P value .16. At 6 months of age, 27% of orally stimulated infants were exclusively breastfed compared with 25% of controls.
Conclusion:
In healthy premature infants, oral stimulation performed by parents has no long-lasting effect on breastfeeding duration. Attention should be directed to parental education and involvement.
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