Early Nutrition among Infants Admitted to the NICU with Cleft Lip and Palate

The objective of this study was to examine differences in human milk feeding outcomes among infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with and without cleft lip and palate (CLP).

Data were used from a sample of infants admitted to the NICU with and without CLP from the 2018 National Vital Statistics System. For baseline comparisons, Chi-square tests of independence were used to compare categorical variables, and independent samples t tests were used for continuous variables. Logistic regression models were performed to determine the odds of human milk feeding at discharge in infants admitted to the NICU with CLP.

The total sample included 345,429 infants admitted to the NICU, of which 660 had CLP. Significant differences were found among the following variables when baseline comparisons were made between infants admitted to the NICU with and without CLP: mother's race, mother's education, maternal smoking record, childbirth delivery method, presence of maternal pre-pregnancy diabetes, five-minute APGAR score, multiparity record (having more than one baby at birth), gestational age, and gestational weight. After controlling for baseline differences, results indicated reduced odds of human milk feeding at discharge in infants admitted to the NICU with CLP compared to those without CLP (OR = .543; 95% CI.455,.648).

Results suggest reduced odds of human milk feeding at discharge among infants admitted to the NICU with CLP compared to those without CLP. These findings emphasize the necessity of awareness and facilitation of human milk feeding in this population.