Early pumping frequency and coming to volume for mother's own milk feeding in hospitalized infants.

OBJECTIVE: To identify daily pumping frequencies associated with coming to volume (CTV: producing > 500 milliliters of milk per day by postnatal day 14) for mothers of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). STUDY DESIGN: We compared demographics and daily pumping frequencies for mothers who did and did not experience CTV. RESULTS: Of 427 mothers who produced milk, 201 (50.1%) experienced CTV. Race, insurance, delivery type and birthweight were associated with CTV. For mothers who experienced CTV, average pumping episodes increased daily, stabilizing at 5 pumping episodes per day by postnatal day 5 (5 × 5). Women who experienced CTV were also more likely to have pumped between 0100 and 0500 (AM pumping). In multivariable analysis birthweight, 5 × 5 and AM pumping were each independently associated with CTV. CONCLUSION: Supporting mothers of NICU infants to achieve 5 or more daily pumping sessions by postnatal day 5 could improve likelihood of achieving CTV.

Longitudinal medical needs for periviable NICU survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the technologies required, medications needed, and early intervention services utilized from discharge to 12 months post-discharge for periviable infants (22 0/7 to 24 6/7 weeks gestational age) followed in a comprehensive NICU follow-up clinic. STUDY DESIGN: Information regarding medication use, technology requirement, and early intervention services was collected prospectively at one, six, and twelve months after discharge. Neurodevelopmental assessment was completed at 12 months corrected age. RESULT: 69 periviable infants were actively treated and survived to discharge during the study period. 54 infants were enrolled and followed in the comprehensive NICU follow-up clinic. Use of technology and prescribed medications decreased with a 46% reduction of infants requiring ≥1 technology device (74.1% vs. 40.4%, p < 0.01) and 64% reduction in infants requiring ≥1 medication (88.9% vs 31.9%, p < 0.01) 12 months post discharge. There was an increase in early intervention services with 83% of infants receiving services by 12 months post discharge. CONCLUSION: Technology and medication requirements were high at discharge but notably decreased in the first year after discharge concurrent with increased enrollment in early interventional services. Many periviable infants survive without severe short-term developmental delays.

Discharging Medically Complex Infants with Supplemental Nasogastric Tube Feeds: Impact on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay and Prevention of Gastrostomy Tubes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of discharge with supplemental nasogastric tube (NGT) feeds in medically complex infants. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study of 400 infants enrolled in the Transitional Medical Home (TMH) program at Duke University Level IV neonatal intensive care unit from January 2013 to 2017. RESULTS: Among 400 infants enrolled in the TMH, 57 infants were discharged with an NGT. A total of 45 infants with a variety of diagnoses and comorbidities were included in final analysis. Among 45 infants, 5 obtained a gastrostomy tube (GT) postdischarge. Median (25-75th percentile) length of use of NGT in 40 infants was 12 days (4-37). Excluding four outliers who used NGT for ≥140 days, the median length of use was 8 days (3-24). This extrapolates to a median of 288 hospital days saved for the remaining 36 infants. There were only three emergency room visits related to parental concern for incorrect NGT placement. There was no statistically significant difference in percent oral feeding predischarge or growth in first month postdischarge between infants who orally fed versus those who obtained GTs. CONCLUSION: Discharge with supplemental NGT feeds is safe and feasible utilizing a standardized protocol and close postdischarge follow-up. This practice can decrease length of stay and prevent need for GT. KEY POINTS: · Discharge with nasogastric tube (NGT) supplementation is safe.. · Discharge with NGT supplementation decreases cost.. · Discharge with NGT can decrease neonatal intensive care unit length of stay.. · Medical home model facilitates safe discharge..