Assessment of swallowing in preterm newborns fed by bottle and cup.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the swallowing performance of premature infants using a cup and a bottle during the first offer of food by mouth.


METHODS
This study was carried out with preterm newborns who presented low weight at birth and no neurological illnesses, genetic syndromes or congenital malformations. The newborns were assessed by videofluoroscopy while using a cup and a bottle, when they reached a post-conceptual age of ≥34 weeks, weight ≥ 1,500 g and showed signs of readiness for oral feeding. All children were fed exclusively by gavage during the period prior to the study.


RESULTS
This study included 20 preterm newborns, with average birth weight of 1,356 g and gestational age of 31.3 weeks. The majority of the bottle-fed newborns (68%) presented strong and rhythmic suction and 63% showed good sucking/swallowing/breathing coordination. The same percentage of newborns fed by cup (68%) could not perform the sipping movement and only 32% could suck a minimal amount of liquid contrast. There were no signs of laryngeal penetration and tracheal aspiration in both procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
At the first oral feeding, preterm newborns showed better swallowing performance with a bottle in comparison to using a cup.
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Claudia Peyres
CP
López
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Brasília Maria
BM
Chiari
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Ana Lúcia
AL
Goulart
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Ana Maria
AM
Furkim
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Zelita Caldeira Ferreira
ZC
Guedes
D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000379:methods*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*