Attainment of early feeding milestones in preterm neonates.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to document the ages at which preterm neonates commence suckle-feeds and attain exclusive suckle-feeding, as well as the time taken to transition from commencement of suckle-feeds to exclusive suckle-feeding. It was hypothesized that gestational age (GA) at birth and degree of neonatal morbidity would influence the timing of these early feeding milestones.


METHODS
A chart review was conducted for all neonates born <37;0 weeks GA admitted to a tertiary level perinatal facility over a 12-month period (n=735). Complete data relating to attainment of feeding milestones were available on 472 neonates.


RESULTS
Correlation analysis indicated that both a low GA at birth and a high neonatal morbidity rating were statistically significantly correlated with an increased transition time from commencement of suckle-feeds to exclusive suckle-feeding. Cox regression indicated that both of these variables were statistically significant risk factors for a delayed GA at attainment of exclusive suckle-feeding.


CONCLUSIONS
Preterm neonates who were less mature at birth and/or who displayed a greater degree of neonatal morbidity took longer to transition from starting suckle-feeds to achieving independent suckle-feeding, and were more mature at attainment of independent suckle-feeding.
Dodrill
P
P
Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Qld, Australia. p.dodrill@uq.edu.au
Donovan
T
T
Cleghorn
G
G
McMahon
S
S
Davies
P S W
PS
D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013391:Sucking Behavior