Every three‐hour versus every six‐hour oral feeding in preterm infants: a randomised clinical trial

Aim This trial compares two oral feeding schedules, every three‐hour and every six‐hour oral feeding attempts, to determine which schedule allows for more rapid attainment of full oral feeding in preterm infants. Methods Infants born at ≤33‐week gestation were randomly assigned to receive oral feedi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Paediatrica 2017-02, Vol.106 (2), p.236-241
Main Authors: Gray, Megan M., Medoff‐Cooper, Barbara, Enlow, Elizabeth M., Mukhopadhyay, Sagori, DeMauro, Sara B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advancement of oral feeding
Apnea
Baby foods
Clinical trials
Cues
Feeding
Feeding frequency
Feeding Methods
Female
Gestation
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infants
Intensive Care, Neonatal - methods
Male
Metaphor
Neonatal intensive care
Newborn babies
Oral feeding
Premature babies
Preterm infants
Schedules
Time Factors
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Summary:Aim This trial compares two oral feeding schedules, every three‐hour and every six‐hour oral feeding attempts, to determine which schedule allows for more rapid attainment of full oral feeding in preterm infants. Methods Infants born at ≤33‐week gestation were randomly assigned to receive oral feeding every three hours or every six hours if feeding cues were present. The primary outcome was time to full oral feeding; secondary outcomes include respiratory and apnoea rates, growth and length of stay. Results A total of 55 infants were recruited. There was no difference between the groups in the primary or secondary outcomes. Conclusion For preterm infants fed when oral feeding cues are present, an every six‐hour schedule did not alter the time to full oral feeding and had no effect on rates of tachypnoea, apnoea or length of hospital stay compared to every three‐hour feeding schedule. An every six‐hour oral feeding schedule led to only small reductions in number of oral feeding attempts per day.
ISSN:0803-5253
1651-2227
DOI:10.1111/apa.13658