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Relationships between preterm medical factors and feeding behaviors at term-equivalent age

Carolyn Ibrahim1, Molly Grabill2, Joan Smith3

  • 1College of Health Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, United States of America.

Early Human Development
|March 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Very preterm infants with more medical complications face feeding challenges at term-equivalent age. Early identification of these infants can guide targeted interventions for better feeding outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Infant Development

Background:

  • Preterm infants often experience feeding difficulties.
  • Early medical factors can influence infant feeding behaviors.
  • Understanding these relationships is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate associations between early medical factors and feeding performance in very preterm infants.
  • To identify specific medical predictors of feeding challenges at term-equivalent age.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 43 very preterm infants (≤32 weeks gestation).
  • Utilized the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment at term-equivalent age (36-42 weeks postmenstrual age).
  • Analyzed relationships between medical factors and feeding outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Lower feeding scores correlated with earlier gestational age, lower birthweight, and longer NICU stays.
  • Feeding difficulties were linked to chronic lung disease, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and parenteral nutrition.
  • Higher postmenstrual age at discharge also associated with poorer feeding.

Conclusions:

  • Infants born earlier with complex medical histories exhibit more feeding problems.
  • Identifying infants at risk allows for timely, targeted feeding interventions.
  • Optimizing feeding in preterm infants requires understanding their medical trajectories.
Abstract

Keywords:
DevelopmentNeonatal intensive care unitPhysiologyTherapy

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