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Oxygen saturations during breast and bottle feedings in infants with congenital heart disease
B L Marino1, P O'Brien, H LoRe
1Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Insights
Breastfeeding is safer for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). Breastfeeding results in higher oxygen levels and less cardiorespiratory stress compared to bottle feeding for infants with CHD.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Bottle feeding is often recommended for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) due to perceived feeding difficulties.
- Previous research on preterm infants suggests higher cardiorespiratory effort during bottle feeding compared to breastfeeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between feeding method (breast vs. bottle) and oxygen saturation (SaO2) in infants diagnosed with CHD.
- To compare cardiorespiratory stress during different feeding methods in infants with CHD.
Main Methods:
- A correlational study design was employed.
- Pulse oximetry was used to measure SaO2 in 7 infants with CHD during both a breast and a bottle feeding session.
Main Results:
- A significant difference in SaO2 was observed between breast and bottle feeding (F = 59.72, p < .0001).
- Mean SaO2 was higher and less variable during breastfeeding (M = 96.3%, SD = 2.2) compared to bottle feeding (M = 92.5%, SD = 6.9).
- Four infants desaturated (SaO2 < 90%) during bottle feeding, while none desaturated during breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding is associated with less cardiorespiratory stress in infants with CHD.
- Breastfeeding appears to be a safer feeding method for infants with CHD, promoting better oxygenation.
Abstract:
Bottle feeding is commonly advised for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) based on the belief that breast feeding is too difficult for them. However, studies of preterm infants have shown that greater cardiorespiratory effort occurs during bottle feeding than during breast feeding. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between feeding method (breast vs. bottle) and oxygen saturations (SaO2) in infants with CHD. In a correlational design, pulse oximetry measured SaO2 during one breast and one bottle feeding in each of 7 infants with CHD. SaO2 during breast feeding is significantly different from SaO2 during bottle feeding (F = 59.72, p < .0001). SaO2 during breast feeding is higher on average and less variable (M = 96.3%, SD = 2.2) than SaO2 during bottle feedings (M = 92.5%, SD = 6.9), indicating that there is less cardiorespiratory stress with breast feeding. None of the infants desaturated (SaO2 < 90%) during breast feedings, whereas four infants desaturated during bottle feedings.