Related Experiment Videos
Comparison of continuous versus intermittent sucking in very-low-birth-weight infants
1Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4904, USA.
Insights
Continuous sucking negatively impacts breathing and intake in very-low-birth-weight infants compared to intermittent sucking. Healthcare providers should monitor breathing during continuous sucking, especially early in bottle feeding.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Infant feeding
- Respiratory physiology
Background:
- Oral feeding is crucial for growth and development in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.
- Understanding the physiological impact of different feeding techniques is essential for optimizing VLBW infant care.
- Continuous and intermittent sucking are two primary methods of oral feeding in neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of continuous versus intermittent sucking on breathing and sucking patterns during oral feedings in VLBW infants.
- To identify potential risks associated with different sucking methods in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental, within-subjects design was employed.
- Eighteen VLBW infants (postnatal days 17-82) participated.
- Breathing and sucking parameters were measured during continuous and intermittent sucking periods.
Main Results:
- Continuous sucking demonstrated more detrimental effects on infant breathing and oxygenation compared to intermittent sucking.
- Infants exhibited stronger sucking efforts and greater formula intake during continuous sucking.
- Distinct patterns of change in breathing and sucking were observed between the two methods, highlighting the greater impact of continuous sucking.
Conclusions:
- Continuous sucking can negatively affect breathing and oxygenation in VLBW infants.
- Healthcare professionals should be vigilant in observing breathing pauses and patterns during continuous sucking, particularly in the initial phase of bottle feeding.
- Intermittent sucking may be a safer alternative for optimizing cardiorespiratory stability during oral feeds in VLBW infants.
Objective:
To examine the effects of continuous and intermittent sucking on breathing and sucking during oral feedings in very-low-birth-weight infants.
Design:
A quasi-experimental, within-subjects design with random assignment. Infants were observed twice in 1 day, once with a nasogastric tube and once without, in random order.
Setting:
A Midwestern university-affiliated tertiary neonatal medical center.
Participants:
Eighteen very-low-birth-weight infants without severe neurologic problems or physical anomalies. On the day of the study, postnatal days were 17-82 days (M = 47.7, SD = +/- 19.3).
Interventions:
Continuous sucking and intermittent sucking periods.
Main Outcome Measures:
Breathing parameters from prefeed to continuous sucking, and intermittent sucking to postfeed periods; and sucking parameters from continuous sucking to intermittent sucking were examined.
Results:
Continuous sucking had more detrimental effects on infants' breathing (p < .05), with stronger sucking (p < .05) and more formula milk intake (p < .05) than intermittent sucking. Different patterns of change between continuous sucking and intermittent sucking indicated that continuous sucking affected breathing, oxygenation, and sucking more than did intermittent sucking.
Conclusions:
Nurses who feed very-low-birth-weight infants should learn to observe different sucking periods and breathing pauses during continuous sucking periods, particularly during the 1st minute of bottle feeding.