title: Postdischarge feeding patterns in early- and late-preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the incidence of postdischarge feeding dysfunction and hospital/subspecialty visits for feeding problems during the first year of life in late (34 to 36 6/7 weeks) and early-preterm (25 to 33 6/7 weeks) infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, the authors sent questionnaires to parents of early (n = 319) and late (n = 571) preterm infants at 3, 6, and 12 months corrected age. Parents' perceptions of infants' feeding skills, comfort with feeding, and hospital/subspecialty visits for feeding difficulties were obtained. Results were analyzed with χ(2) tests and Spearman's correlations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early preterms had more oromotor dysfunction at 3 (29% vs 17%) and 12 months (7% vs 4%) and more avoidant feeding behavior at 3 months (33% vs 29%). In both groups, oromotor dysfunction and avoidant feeding behavior improved over time. Frequency of poor appetite and hospitalization/subspecialty visits were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatricians should screen all preterm infants for feeding dysfunction during the first year.
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. demauro@email.chop.edu
authors.forename: Sara B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: DeMauro
authors.forename: Preeti R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Medoff-Cooper
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Posencheg
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbasi
mesh_terms: D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011181:Postnatal Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors