Preterm infant feeding performance at term equivalent age differs from that of full-term infants

Abstract

Objective To identify differences in feeding skill performance among preterm infants at term equivalent age compared with full-term infants. Study design Ninety-two infants (44 preterm infants born ≤32 weeks gestation at term equivalent age and 48 full-term infants within 4 days of birth) had a standardized oral feeding assessment. Result Preterm infants at term equivalent age had lower Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment scores (67.8 ± 13.6 compared with 82.2 ± 8.1; p < 0.001) and were more likely to have poor arousal (p = 0.04), poor tongue positioning (p = 0.04), suck-swallow-breathe discoordination (p < 0.001), inadequate sucking bursts (p = 0.01), tonal abnormalities (p < 0.001), discoordination of the jaw and tongue during sucking (p < 0.001), lack of positive engagement with the feeder and/or discomfort (p < 0.001), signs of aspiration (p < 0.001), difficulty regulating breathing (p < 0.001), and have an inability to maintain an appropriate state (p < 0.001), and complete the feeding (<0.001). Conclusion A broad range of feeding-related difficulties appear to remain evident in preterm infants at term equivalent age.

The time to initiate trophic feeding and its predictors among preterm neonate admitted to neonatal intensive care unit, Multicenter study, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Furthermore, the hazard of starting TF in neonate with respiratory distress syndrome was 50% less likely among neonates compared with their counterparts. This may be because the presence of respiratory distress might be aggravated with pressure from the abdominal cavity that is further complicated by physiological instability with bradycardia and desaturation events, which have been associated with an increased risk of aspiration during feeding [ 47 ]. This may influence professionals’ decision to delay starting TF.…”

The Time to Initiate Trophic Feeding and Its Predictors Among Preterm Neonate Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Multicenter Study, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020.

“…Furthermore, the hazard of starting TF in neonate with respiratory distress syndrome was 50% less likely among neonates compared with their counterparts. This may be because the presence of respiratory distress might be aggravated with pressure from the abdominal cavity that is further complicated by physiological instability with bradycardia and desaturation events, which have been associated with an increased risk of aspiration during feeding (41). This may in uence professionals' decision to delay starting TF.…”

Consequences of Using Artificial Nipples in Exclusive Breastfeeding: An Integrative Review

“…As for feeding bottles, these similarly interfere with breastfeeding because of the great difference between the flow of milk that is extracted from the breast and that from the feeding bottle, making infants prefer the latter. Furthermore, breastfeeding is a complex task that requires the integration and organization of several different skills, demanding greater effort from newborns (9,50).…”