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Nipple feeding for preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
K F Pridham1, S Sondel, A Chang
1University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing, Department of Family Medicine and Practice 53792.
Insights
Infant physical condition impacts nipple feeding timelines but not caloric intake. Older infants and those on oxygen longer experienced less weight gain post-feeding completion.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric nutrition
- Respiratory medicine
Background:
- Preterm infants, particularly those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, often face challenges with oral feeding.
- Understanding factors influencing feeding progression is crucial for optimizing growth and development in vulnerable infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how an infant's physical condition affects nipple-feeding practices.
- To determine the impact of age at complete nipple feeding on dietary intake and somatic growth.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective correlational study involving 55 preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia from two Level III nurseries.
- Analysis of feeding initiation, completion, caloric intake (kcal/kg), and weight gain relative to physical condition and respiratory support.
Main Results:
- Infant weight at nipple feeding introduction was the primary factor determining the age of introduction.
- Physical condition and respiratory support duration influenced the age of nipple feeding initiation and completion, but not the transition time.
- Neither physical condition nor feeding practices affected caloric intake; however, longer oxygen use and later complete nipple feeding correlated with reduced weight gain.
Conclusions:
- While physical condition influences the timing of nipple feeding in preterm infants, it does not directly impact caloric intake.
- Delayed complete nipple feeding, especially in infants requiring prolonged oxygen support, is associated with poorer weight gain.
- Optimizing feeding strategies and respiratory support may be key to improving growth outcomes in these infants.
Objective:
To examine the influence of an infant's physical condition on nipple-feeding practices and the contribution of the infant's age at complete nipple feeding to dietary intake and somatic growth outcomes.
Design:
A retrospective, correlational study.
Setting:
Two Level III nurseries.
Participants:
Records of 55 preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Main Outcome Measures:
The infant's intake of kcal/kg on Day 1 of complete nipple feeding and the weight gain per day between complete nipple feeding and discharge.
Results:
Gestational age and days on mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure, or supplementary oxygen influenced age at start and at completion of nipple feeding (p < .05). The infant's weight when nipple feeding was introduced was the primary determinant of age at introduction of nipple feeding (B = .50, p < .001). The physical condition variables did not influence the transition time from introduction of nipple feeding to complete nipple feeding. Neither the physical condition variables nor the feeding practice variables contributed to caloric intake. Weight gain between the time of complete nipple feeding and hospital discharge was less for infants who were on supplementary oxygen longer and who were older when completely nipple fed (p < .01).