Neonatal Therapy Interventions Supporting Oral Feeding Skills in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Therapeutic interventions
• Pediatric feeding disorders

Background:

• Preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) often experience challenges with oral feeding.
• Early and effective interventions are crucial for improving feeding outcomes and overall development in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize the literature on neonatal therapy interventions.
• To evaluate the impact of these interventions on oral feeding outcomes in preterm infants within the NICU setting.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, PEDro) for studies published between 2014 and 2023.
• Included were clinical trials focusing on neonatal therapy interventions for preterm infants (<37 weeks gestation) and their effect on oral feeding.
• Primary outcomes included time to full oral feeding and feeding quality; secondary outcomes were weight gain and length of stay.

Main Results:

• Fourteen studies identified three intervention categories: oral motor stimulation, swallowing exercises, and sensory-based interventions.
• Interventions, typically initiated between 27-33 weeks postmenstrual age, generally improved oral feeding, leading to faster full oral feeding and better feeding quality.
• Multidomain interventions demonstrated superior outcomes compared to single-domain approaches, though results for length of stay and weight gain were variable.

Conclusions:

• Neonatal therapy interventions can be initiated early in preterm infants to enhance oral feeding.
• Multi-domain therapeutic approaches are particularly effective in improving oral feeding outcomes for preterm infants in the NICU.