| Abstract [eng] |
Impact of Oral Stimulation on Feeding Skills Development in Preterm Infants The Author: Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine Master of Rehabilitation Program student Judita Dovydėnaitė Work Leader: dr. Professor Nijolė Drazdienė, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Children‘s Disease Clinic. Keywords: preterm infants, oral stimulation, feeding skills The attainment of sucking skill can be very challenging in preterm infant. Early stimulation, which encourages sucking and formation of other necessary feeding skills, can ease the transition to oral feeding, thus have a positive impact on the development of feeding skills. The aim of research work: to assess the impact or oral stimulation on feeding skills development in preterm infants. Tasks of work: 1. To assess the development of feeding skills in premature infants. 2. To assess the impact of oral stimulation for feeding skills development. 3. To assess the impact of oral stimulation on start of oral feeding and on transition period to oral feeding. 4. To assess the impact of oral stimulation on duration of hospitalization. Materials and methods: Clinical study took place at Vilnius University hospital, Children’s hospital, Neonatology centre, department of preterm infants. 32 preterm infants were included in study, 12 of them in experimental group, and 20 – control group. 10 interventions of oral stimulation were provided for infants in experimental group. Infants were monitored during every stimulation intervention for heart rate and oxygen saturation, also the signs of stress were assessed. Infants in the control group got the routine unite care. Infants in bothh groups were fed while using the individualized protocol of the pretrm infant feeding. Specific oral feeding skills were assessed during the transition to oral feeding period: feeding proficiency, volume transfer, feeding duration, rate of transfer). Infants were assessed three times, while taking 1-2, 3-5 and 8 breastfeedings or bottle feedings per day. Results. Significant differences in both groups were found in the changes between all observations, in these feeding skills: the amount of milk taken within the first 5 minutes of feeding, feeding efficiency. Volume transfer significantly increased in both groups, between first and second observation, however the singnificant difference between second and third observation was only in control group. Feeding duration increased significantly in both groups between first and second observation and decreased in control group between second and third observation. Oral stimulation significantly decresed the feeding duration and increased rate of transfer on second observation. 67 percent of the experimental group and only 40 percent in the control group of infants were partially breastfed. In the experimental group transition to oral feeding period lasted an average of 8.5 days in the control group - 10.8 days (p = 0.195). Postconceptional age at discharge in control and experimental groups was 36.3 and 36.2 weeks respectively (p = 0,586). Conclusions. 1. Oral feeding skills improved during transition to oral feeding period in preterm infants.the Significant improvement of feeding skills, which indicated that oral muscle stregh and endurance increased, the coordination of sucking-breathing-swalloving was refined. 2. Oral stimulation improved Feeding efficiency and decreased feeding duration during second observation. Oral stimulation didn’t improved any other feeding skills. Oral stimulation improved breastfeeding rates in preterm infants. 3. Oral stimulation didn’t have impact on start of oral feedings. Transition period was shorter by 2 days in experimental group, although the difference between groups wasn’t significant. 4. Oral stimulation didn’t impact the duration of hospitalization. |
