title: Attainment of early feeding milestones in preterm neonates.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Qld, Australia. p.dodrill@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dodrill
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cleghorn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: P S W
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: 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