Effect of Sensory Motor Stimulation on Enhancing Oral Feeding Readiness of Preterm Neonates

Abstract

Sensory Motor Stimulation is one of the first coordinated muscular activities in the fetus. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sensory-motor stimulation on enhancing the oral feeding readiness of preterm neonates. Subject and Method: A quasi-experimental design was utilized and conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit at Minia University Hospital for obstetrics and pediatrics. A purposeful sample of 140 preterm neonates and one tool was used in the current study which includes: Personal data of the preterm infant, such as gender, post-natal age, and premature oral feeding readiness assessment scale. Results: More than one-third of the study and control groups gestational age ranged between 34 -35 weeks. Mean scores of premature oral feeding readiness were increased in the study group than the control group, especially on the third and fourth days of the intervention with statistically significant differences. In addition, more than onequarter of the preterm neonates in the study group begins oral feeding within 4 -6 days of admission. Conclusion: Sensory motor stimulation is an effective technique for enhancing premature oral feeding readiness of stable premature neonates as evidenced by the improvement of the mean scores of premature oral feeding readiness assessment scale items and decreasing the time needed for the onset of full oral feeding. Recommendation: Provide nursing training for all nursing staff in the neonatal intensive care unit about Sensory Motor Stimulation for premature neonates.

Effect of the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention on Sucking Capacity in Preterm Infants in Turkey

“…21 Many RCTs have shown PIOMI to improve oral feeding outcomes such as readiness to feed, [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] oral motor function, 24,[28][29][30][31] breast/chest feeding, 31,32 and a faster transition to full oral feeding. 7,12,24,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] which often results in decreased LOS. Other RCTs have shown PIOMI's positive effect on NNS scores, 37 behavioral state, 30 and higher scores on the Infant Neurological International Battery (INFANIB) even sustained at 3 and 6 months after discharge.…”

“…Nonnutritive sucking alone and combined with oral stimulation has been found to mature the oral motor–sensory system and improve not only bottle feeding but also breast/chest feeding 21. Many RCTs have shown PIOMI to improve oral feeding outcomes such as readiness to feed,22–28 oral motor function,24,28–31 breast/chest feeding,31,32 and a faster transition to full oral feeding 7,12,24,27–38. which often results in decreased LOS.…”

“…However, there are no studies that have quantitatively tested PIOMI specifically on sucking capacity using pressure manometry. In addition, although most oral motor studies include the outcome of weight, results vary with some studies demonstrating increased weight gain with PIOMI28,30,33 while others have not shown this effect 26,38. No studies were found that measured PIOMI's effect on head circumference.…”