Nonnutritive sucking during tube feedings: effect on clinical course in premature infants

Fifty-nine infants, 28--34 weeks' gestation, were assigned to treatment and control groups. Treatment infants were offered a pacifier during and following every tube feeding; control infants received routine care. The treatment began when an infant could tolerate room air and 10 cc of full-stre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJOGN nursing Vol. 8; no. 5; p. 265
Main Authors Measel, C P, Anderson, G C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.1979
Subjects
Body Weight
Bottle Feeding
Enteral Nutrition
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Sucking Behavior - physiology
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Summary:Fifty-nine infants, 28--34 weeks' gestation, were assigned to treatment and control groups. Treatment infants were offered a pacifier during and following every tube feeding; control infants received routine care. The treatment began when an infant could tolerate room air and 10 cc of full-strength formula by tube; it ended when the infant was totally bottle fed. Treated infants showed readiness for bottle feeding 3.4 days earlier, i.e., with 27 fewer tube feedings each. Performance during the first bottle feeding was assessed with a feeding scale and was statistically similar for both groups. From study entry to first bottle feeding the treated infants gained 2.6 gm/day more and were discharged 4 days sooner. Complications differed between the two groups.
ISSN:0090-0311
DOI:10.1111/j.1552-6909.1979.tb00960.x