The effect of breast- and bottle-feeding on oxygen saturation and body temperature in preterm infants.
From July 1997 to June 1998, 25 preterm infants (birth weight < 1800 g) were included in a prospective study to compare the clinical effects of breast- and bottle-feeding. Oxygen saturation, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature were recorded every minute for 20 minutes during feeding periods. Eighty pairs of breast- and bottle-feeding sessions were observed at the chronological age of 9.3 +/- 4.3 (range = 2.1-25.3) weeks. Oxygen saturation and body temperature of the preterm infants were significantly higher when they were directly breastfed. There were 2 episodes of apnea (breath pause more than 20 seconds) and 20 episodes of oxygen desaturation (PaO2 < 90%) during bottle-feeding and none during breastfeeding. We conclude that breastfeeding is a more physiological feeding method for the preterm infant and bottle-feeding may be more stressful.
Chen
C H
CH
Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160, sec 3, Chung-Kang Road, Taichung, 407 Taiwan.
Wang
T M
TM
Chang
H M
HM
Chi
C S
CS
D001049:Apnea / Q000209:etiology; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors
D010100:Oxygen