title: Eating in "SINC": Safe Individualized Nipple-Feeding Competence, a Quality Improvement Project to Explore Infant-Driven Oral Feeding for Very Premature Infants Requiring Noninvasive Respiratory Support.
abstract: Oral feeding is a developmental task for all premature infants. often, independent nipple feeding is the last barrier to discharge home from the NICU. A relationship exists between consistent, infant-driven feeding management practices and improved feeding performance. Conversely, a random approach to feeding may contribute to poor short-term and long-term clinical outcomes. We report a quality improvement project that was undertaken across five NICUs in an urban setting. our aim was to safely initiate and advance nipple feeding for very preterm neonates (born at <32 weeks gestation) who had a respiratory morbidity requiring nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy. A novel algorithm entitled "eating in SINC: Safe individualized nipple-Feeding Competence" was developed. Safe individualized nipple-feeding competence involves the baby, the parents, and the health care team by using infant-driven strategies, common language, and developmentally appropriate goals while supporting fragile neonates to be skilled feeders.
authors.affiliation: Foothills Medical Centre, NICU, 5th Floor, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada.
authors.forename: Stacey R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dalgleish
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kostecky
authors.forename: Noreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blachly
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies