title: A descriptive study of bottle-feeding opportunities in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to describe patterns of bottle feeding opportunities in preterm infants and to analyze the relationships between feeding opportunities and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The smaple was composed of 25 preterm infants who were bottle fed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, correlational.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from medical records and analyzed descriptively. Correlation coefficients among variables were computed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postconceptional age (PCA) at the time of full bottle feedings and transition time from the first to full bottle feedings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of bottle feedings received per day during the transition from first to full bottle feedings was inversely related to length of transition to full bottle feedings. There was no relationship between the number of bottle-feeding opportunities and PCA at full bottle feedings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The achievement of full bottle feedings may be facilitated by increased bottle-feeding opportunities. More research about the relationships among feeding readiness, outcomes, and opportunities is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal Child Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA, USA. rpickler@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Rita H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Pickler
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Reyna
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001724:Birth Weight; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000451:nursing*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies