Parent-Administered Oral Stimulation in Preterm Infants: A Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess whether there was any difference in the transition time to full oral feedings between parent-administered and professional-administered premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI). The study also evaluated parental satisfaction with performing the intervention through an open-ended questionnaire. STUDY DESIGN: A single-center, randomized, controlled, open-label pilot study was carried on between March 2017 and May 2019. A total of 39 infants born ≤32 weeks' gestation were randomly assigned to either parent-performed or professionally performed oral stimulation. The oral stimulation was performed once a day for seven consecutive days between 31 and 32 weeks' postmenstrual age. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in transition time, weight gain, or length of hospital stay between the two groups. No adverse events were observed. Parents' satisfaction was high, and their active involvement enhanced their perception of adequacy to care for their infant. CONCLUSION: Following adequate training, a parent-administered PIOMI may be considered in preterm infants to reduce the transition time to full oral feeding and enhance the direct involvement of parents in neonatal care. KEY POINTS: · No difference in transition time between parent-performed and professional-performed PIOMI.. · PIOMI may be delivered by parents following appropriate training.. · Active involvement of parents may improve the parent-infant bonding..

A key developmental step for preterm babies: achievement of full oral feeding.

Aims: To investigate timing of oral feeding (OF) introduction and full oral feeding (FOF) achievement in preterm infants and to explore factors associated with feeding progression.Methods: Retrospective review of 100 medical records of preterms ≤32 weeks of gestation (GA) without major complications. Outcome measures were timing of OF introduction, transition time from nasogastric tube to FOF and FOF achievement. Variables such as sex, twins, GA, birthweight, respiratory supports used and duration of tube feeding, were also considered.Results: Post menstrual age (PMA) for OF introduction was 33.6 ± 1.1 weeks. FOF was achieved at 35.1 ± 1.5 weeks. PMA at OF introduction and PMA at FOF correlated with: birthweight (p = .0001, p = .001); duration of respiratory supports (p = 0.01, p = .0001); PMA at which respiratory supports were stopped (p = .0001, p = .0001); age of introduction of gavage (p = .0001, p = .003) and time of utilization of tube feeding (p = .02, p = .0001). Transition time was 1.5 ± 8.5 days. PMA at OF introduction significantly influenced PMA at FOF (p = .0001, r = .61). OF introduction, transition time and FOF were correlated with duration of hospitalization (p = .004, p = .0001, p = .008).Conclusions: The achievement of feeding skills is confirmed to affect length of hospitalization, but the earlier you introduce OF, the earlier you reach FOF, so introduction should be anticipated. There is a clear trend to favor higher birthweight classes in FOF achievement. Feeding tube placement and need for respiratory supports may represent a nociceptive experience delaying feeding skills' achievement. This highlights the importance of prospective studies investigating the role of preventative interventions.