A feeding protocol for healthy preterm infants that shortens time to oral feeding.
J Pediatr
; 139(3): 374-9, 2001 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11562616
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that healthy preterm infants randomly assigned to a semi-demand feeding protocol would require fewer days to attain oral feeding and have a satisfactory weight gain compared with control infants receiving standard care. STUDY DESIGN: In 2 neonatal intensive care nurseries, 81 infants 32 to < or = 34 weeks' postconceptional age were randomly assigned to the control (n = 41) or experimental (n = 40) protocol for transition from gavage to oral feedings. The control protocol followed the standard practice of gradually increasing scheduled oral feedings, whereas the experimental protocol used a semi-demand feeding method contingent on infant behavior. Analysis of variance techniques were used to compare the study groups for number of days to attain oral feeding and weight gain. RESULTS: The semi-demand method shortened the time for infants to achieve oral feeding by 5 days (P < .001). There were no differences in weight gain between the study groups, and both groups had satisfactory weight gain. CONCLUSION: The semi-demand method for the transition from gavage to oral feeding in healthy, preterm infants 32 to < or = 34 weeks postconceptional age promotes faster attainment of oral feeding and does not compromise their weight gain.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Infant, Premature
/
Enteral Nutrition
/
Infant Food
/
Milk, Human
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Guideline
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Newborn
Language:
En
Journal:
J Pediatr
Year:
2001
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Country of publication:
United States