Preterm Infant Feeding: A Mechanistic Comparison between a Vacuum Triggered Novel Teat and Breastfeeding.
The goal for preterm infants is to achieve full oral feeds quickly and ultimately progress to full breastfeeding. Supplementary oral feeds are often given when the mother is not available to breastfeed. Bottles typically deliver milk in a different fashion compared to breastfeeding, which is thought to hamper transition to full breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to compare the sucking dynamics of preterm infants fed at the breast to feeding with an experimental novel teat (NT) designed to release milk only upon the application of vacuum. Simultaneous ultrasound imaging of the infant oral cavity and measurement of intra-oral vacuum was performed during a breastfeed and a feed with the NT. Test weighs were used to measure milk intake. Linear mixed effects models were performed to investigate differences by feed type, and simultaneous linear regression was performed to investigate individual patterns. Tongue movement was not different between breastfeeding and the NT. Intra-oral vacuums (median (interquartile range: IQR)) were significantly lower with the NT (Baseline vacuum: -5.8 mmHg (-11.0, 0.1); Peak: 40.0 mmHg (-54.6, -27.1)) compared to breastfeeding (Baseline: -31.1 mmHg (-60.0, -12.7); Peak: -106.2 mmHg (-153.0, -65.5)). Milk intake was significantly higher with the NT (33 mL (22.5, 42.5)) compared to the breastfeed (12 mL (3, 15.5)). The novel teat encouraged a similar tongue action to breastfeeding, and infants transferred a greater volume of milk with the novel teat. Intra-oral vacuums were lower in strength with the novel teat compared to the breast. Use of the novel teat for the training of sucking dynamics in preterm infants has the potential to improve breastfeeding success and requires further investigation.
['Geddes|Donna|D|', 'Kok|Chooi|C|', 'Nancarrow|Kathryn|K|', 'Hepworth|Anna|A|', 'Simmer|Karen|K|']
D000367:Age Factors D001724:Birth Weight D001903:Bottle Feeding D001942:Breast Feeding D004867:Equipment Design D005247:Feeding Behavior D005260:Female D005865:Gestational Age D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D018730:Infant Behavior D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight D007231:Infant, Newborn D007234:Infant, Premature D016014:Linear Models D008297:Male D013391:Sucking Behavior D013997:Time Factors D014061:Tongue Habits D014618:Vacuum
preterm infant infant feeding feeding breastfeeding bottle human milk nipple shield premature