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A randomised trial of two techniques for bottle feeding preterm infants
Author(s) -
Dawson Jennifer A,
Myers Leanne R,
Moorhead Anita,
Jacobs Susan E,
Ong Katherine,
Salo Frances,
Murray Sally,
Donath Susan,
Davis Peter G
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12208
Subject(s) - medicine , bradycardia , confidence interval , gestation , heart rate , gestational age , crossover study , anesthesia , pediatrics , zoology , pregnancy , placebo , blood pressure , alternative medicine , pathology , biology , genetics
Aim Preterm infants begin the transition from gastric tube feeds to sucking feeds around 34 weeks' postmenstrual age. We compared physiological stability in two bottle feeding positions, cradle hold versus side lying in preterm infants. Methods Randomised crossover trial of infants <34 weeks' gestation at birth, ≥34 weeks' postmenstrual age at study and receiving at least two sucking feeds/day. Two feeds were studied on successive days. A pulse oximeter measured oxygen saturation ( SpO 2 ) and heart rate ( HR ) before, during and 30 min after feeds. Continuous data were compared using paired t ‐tests and proportions using chi squared. Results Twenty‐five study infants were mean (standard deviation ( SD )) 37 (2.4) weeks' post‐menstrual age and 2740 (589) g at study. There was little difference in mean ( SD ) SpO 2 during feeds between the cradle‐hold and side‐lying position 94 (6) % versus 95 (6) %, respectively ( P = 0.55, confidence interval ( CI ) −1.4, 5.4). During feeds, 17/25 (68%) experienced a period of SpO 2 <80% in the cradle‐hold position compared with 14/25 (56) % in the side‐lying position ( P = 0.26, CI 0.68, 4.10). There were no significant differences in the mean HR or number of episodes of bradycardia HR <100 bpm. There was a trend towards infants consuming a smaller mean ( SD ) proportion of their feed in the cradle‐hold position compared with the side‐lying position, 82 (25) % versus 87 (20) % ( P = 0.08, CI −0.64, 10.00). Conclusions There was little difference in infants' physiological stability between the two bottle feeding positions. Both methods may be appropriate for the transition from gastric tube to sucking feeds in preterm infants.