Effect of cup feeding and bottle feeding on breastfeeding in late preterm infants: a randomized controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Cup feeding has been used as an alternative feeding method for preterm infants.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of bottle and cup feeding on exclusive breastfeeding rates at hospital discharge and 3 and 6 months post-discharge in late preterm infants.


METHODS
Included in the study were preterm infants of 32 to 35 weeks' gestation fed only by intermittent gastric tube at the time of recruitment; 522 infants were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the cup-fed group (n = 254) and bottle-fed group (n = 268). Main outcomes were prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge and 3 and 6 months after discharge, and length of hospital stay.


RESULTS
Infants randomized to cup versus bottle feeding were more likely to be exclusively breastfed at discharge home (relative risk [RR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-1.83), 3 months after discharge (RR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.42-1.89), and 6 months after discharge (RR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.14-1.63). There was no significant difference between groups for length of hospital stay. The mean hospital stay was 25.96 ± 2.20 days in the bottle-fed group and 25.68 ± 2.22 days in the cup-fed group. There was no significant difference between groups for time spent feeding, feeding problems, or weight gain in hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
Cup feeding significantly increased the likelihood of late preterm infants being exclusively breastfed at discharge and 3 and 6 months after discharge, and cup feeding did not increase the length of hospital stay. Overall, we recommend cup feeding as a transitional method prior to breastfeeding for late preterm infants during hospitalization.
1Department of Social and Developmental Pediatrics, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Gonca
G
Yilmaz
Nilgun
N
Caylan
Can Demir
CD
Karacan
İlknur
İ
Bodur
Gulbin
G
Gokcay
D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000379:methods*; D005248:Feeding Methods / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain
BFHI; Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative; alternative feeding methods; breastfeeding; cup feeding; infants