Oral feeding readiness and premature infant outcomes

Abstract

BackgroundPreterm infants develop a coordinated suck and swallow depending upon their postmenstrual age and neurological status. However, criteria to determine when to best initiate oral feeding are unclear. Yet, infant readiness for oral feeding is essential for successful transition from enteral tube to oral feeding. AimThis study aimed to (a) identify infant characteristics associated with feeding readiness assessed with the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS)1 and (b) examine the relationship between readiness and preterm infants’ time to reach full oral feeding and length of hospital stay. Study designThis is a secondary descriptive analysis from a randomized controlled study to determine the effect of a premature infant oral motor intervention on feeding progression and length of hospital stay. Seventy-five stable premature infants were recruited from five neonatal intensive care units in Assiut city, Assiut governorate, Egypt. Eligible infants’ gestational age ranged from 30 to 32 weeks gestational age (GA). Readiness was assessed individually for each infant during non/nutritive sucking using NOMAS. ResultPreterm infants who demonstrated greater oral feeding readiness achieved full oral feeding sooner (P < 0.0001) and were discharged earlier from the hospital (P < 0.0001) than those with less readiness. Gender, gestational age at birth, birth weight, number of intervention days were not related to infant oral feeding readiness. ConclusionReadiness for oral feeding in premature infants is related to earlier feeding progression and shorter hospital stays.