Abstract
Following observations that reducing milk container rigidity may help oral feedings, five preterm infants (x+SEM GA 33±1.2 wks, weight 1.7±0.1 kg, post-natal age 4.2±0.9 wks) were studied at sequential feeds with equal volumes of milk from two containers, rigid (R) and collapsible (C). Ventilation, sucking pressure, duration of feeding (DF) were measured. No significant difference in ventilation during sucking was found between containers. Nipple sucking pressure was significantly greater with R (12.1±0.9 cmH20, P<0.001) Suck-pause sucking pattern was clearly seen only with R, where pause occupied 21.7±2.8% of total time. Pause ventilation was similar to baseline. No significant difference in total airway closure time was found between containers. Result suggest that reducing the oral load decreasesingestion time without further impairment of ventilation, and maybe useful in aiding the oral feeding of preterm infants.
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