Effect of follow-up home-based oromotor stimulation on breastfeeding performance in preterm low-birth-weight infants: A randomized control trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In preterm neonates, feeding problems are recognized as a challenging issue. Immaturity of the oromotor system, inability to generate a suck-swallow-breath pattern, and poor motor development are few factors contributing to feeding difficulties. Oromotor stimulation is one of the various techniques used to enhance breastfeeding in infants which is frequently given in hospitals. However, the effect of oromotor stimulation is given as a home-based program has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of home-based oromotor stimulation on weight, sucking frequency, duration of transition from spoon-feeding to breastfeeding, and Latch breastfeeding assessment in preterm low-birth-weight infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized control trial was done on 40 preterm low-birth-weight infants where they were divided equally into intervention and control groups. Weight, Latch scores, and sucking frequency were noted at baseline. Routine Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care was given to infants in the control group whereas oromotor stimulation was given for 21 days as a home-based program to the intervention group. The outcome measures were evaluated on the 7th and the 21st day. RESULTS: Oromotor stimulation improved the sucking frequency, Latch scores, and hastened the transition from spoon-feeding to breastfeeding as compared to the controlled group (P 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that home-based oromotor stimulation program is effective in improving sucking frequency, Latch scores, and duration of transition from spoon-feeding to breastfeeding in preterm low-birth-weight infants, although no significant changes were seen in the rate of weight gain between the groups. Oromotor stimulation should be added along with routine NICU care for preterm low-birth-weight infants to improve the breastfeeding performance.