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. 2021 Dec;36(6):1262-1269.
doi: 10.1002/ncp.10635. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Effects of Implementation of Infant-Driven Oral Feeding Guideline on Preterm Infants' Abilities to Achieve Oral Feeding Milestones, in a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Ahmed Osman  1 , Mujahid Ibrahim  2 , Jean Saunders  3 , Roula Merheb  1   4 , Michele Moscorelli  5 , Vanessa Caretto  5 , Sharon Groh-Wargo  1
Affiliations

Effects of Implementation of Infant-Driven Oral Feeding Guideline on Preterm Infants' Abilities to Achieve Oral Feeding Milestones, in a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Ahmed Osman et al. Nutr Clin Pract. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the hypothesis that infant-driven oral feeding leads to earlier achievement of oral feeding and reduces the length of hospital stay compared with provider-driven oral feeding in premature infants METHODS: We used a retrospective chart review to compare 2 groups of premature infants born at ≤35 weeks of gestation. The control group (CG) received the Provider-Driven Oral Feeding model and the intervention group (IG) received the Infant-Driven Oral Feeding model. Postmenstrual age (PMA) upon achieving full oral feeding, PMA at first oral feeding, discharge weight, and length of hospital stay were compared between the groups.

Results: There are 208 infants in CG and 170 infants in IG. Infants in IG were born, on average, at a lower gestational age and birth weight than infants in CG. The median PMA at full oral feeding of 35 2/7 weeks (interquartile range [IQR], 34 2/7-36 2/7) for IG is significantly lower than the median of 35 5/7 weeks (IQR, 35-36 5/7) for CG, P-value < 0.001. Median PMA at first oral feeding is 34 1/7 weeks for both groups. Median PMA at discharge was 36 6/7 weeks for both groups. Median discharge weights of 2509 g (IQR, 2175-2964) for IG and 2459 g (IQR, 2204-2762) for CG are not statistically different.

Conclusion: Implementation of the Infant-Driven Feeding guideline led to earlier achievement of full oral feeding by 3 days on average while maintaining the same discharge weight but did not lead to earlier hospital discharge.

Keywords: feeding methods; growth; hospital stay; premature infant; weight.

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