Bottle-feeding behaviors in preterm infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared bottle-feeding behaviors in preterm infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) during the initial hospitalization.


METHODS
Individual sucking characteristics and feeding transitional rates were compared in 41 preterm infants (22 boys, 19 girls) with BPD and 99 infants (44 boys, 55 girls) without BPD. Observations of the first bottle feeding and observations of the last feeding before discharge were obtained from medical records of all infants retrospectively.


RESULTS
On discharge, infants with BPD, unlike those without BPD, continued to have an immature sucking pattern and required longer hospital stays to attain full oral feeding (p < .001). No differences were found between the BPD and non-BPD groups in time needed for feeding and use of oral support.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that feeding transitional rate, rather than sucking pattern, may be a better discharge indicator for infants with BPD.
Howe
Tsu-Hsin
TH
School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
Sheu
Ching-Fan
CF
Holzman
Ian R
IR
D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013391:Sucking Behavior