Methods and techniques to improve the quality and safety of oral feeding in preterm infants are still a significant challenge in modern neonatology. One of the areas that can help improve feeding is choosing the optimal feeding position for premature babies.
PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to compare the advantages of side-lying positioning on the right (SLP-R) and left side (SLP-L) of infant's body, during bottle-feeding of preterm infants. METHOD: The study will include eight neonates (n=8) born ≤34 weeks of gestational age. Four bottle-feeding sessions will be tested in each of the newborns: two in the SLP-R and two in the SLP-L. The position for the first study will be randomly assign, then positioning will be change after each feeding session. In one day, only two consecutive feeding sessions will be tested which will be included to the study in order to minimize fatigability as a disrupting factor. The levels of saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) will be measured as the parameters indicative of the newborn's physiological stability. The factors determining the qualitative aspect of feeding include the total time of declines of SpO2 ≤85%, level of the newborn's alertness according to the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), and the occurrence of choking episodes. The proportion of milk consumed (volume of milk eaten relative to the expected volume) and the duration of the feeding and feeding session were also will be record. Maximum time of feeding session will be 40 minutes. Also the posseting during/after feeding and regurgitations will be record in each tested positions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
8
SLP-R will be given to the infant during bottle-feeding.
SLP-L will be given to the infant during bottle-feeding.
Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital - Research Institute
Lodz, Poland
Physiological stability
Oxygen saturation (SpO2) changes measured by using a pulse oximeter data
Time frame: Measured 2 minutes before feeding session, in 3rd and 10th minutes of feeding, at the moment of finish of the feeding and in 10th minute after feeding (5 points of measurement)
Physiological stability
Heart rate (HR) changes measured by using a pulse oximeter data
Time frame: Measured 2 minutes before feeding session, in 3rd and 10th minutes of feeding, at the moment of finish of the feeding and in 10th minute after feeding (5 points of measurement)
Qualitative aspect of bottle-feeding
Total time of declines of SpO2 ≤85% measured by using a pulse oximeter data
Time frame: Up to 40 minutes - measured during feeding session (maximum time of feeding session is 40 minutes)
Qualitative aspect of bottle-feeding
Level of the newborn's alertness changes according to the 6-point Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, where individual points mean: 1 - quiet sleep, 2 - active sleep, 3 - drowsy, 4 - quiet alert, 5 - active alert, 6 - crying. This is descriptive, qualitative scale which shows changes of newborn's activity.
Time frame: Measured 2 minutes before feeding session, in 3rd and 10th minutes of feeding, at the moment of finish of the feeding and in 10th minute after feeding (5 points of measurement)
Qualitative aspect of bottle-feeding
Occurrence of choking episodes
Time frame: Up to 40 minutes - measured during feeding session (maximum time of feeding session is 40 minutes)
Qualitative aspect of bottle-feeding
Occurence of posseting and regurgitations
Time frame: Up to 40 minutes - measured during feeding session (maximum time of feeding session is 40 minutes)
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Qualitative aspect of bottle-feeding
Duration of the feeding session
Time frame: Up to 1 hour - measured from taking the baby out of bed before feeding to putting the baby to bed immediately after the intervention. Putting baby on parent's chest to kangaroo (Kangaroo Mother Care) after feeding instead to bed was also allowed.
Qualitative aspect of bottle-feeding
Duration of feeding
Time frame: Up to 40 minutes - measured during feeding session (maximum time of feeding session is 40 minutes) - measured from insertion of the nipple to the infant's mouth to the moment when baby finish the feeding
Qualitative aspect of bottle-feeding
Duration of feeding
Time frame: Up to 40 minutes - measured during feeding session (maximum time of feeding session is 40 minutes) - duration of feeding is measured from insertion of the nipple to the infant's mouth to the moment when baby finish the feeding
Qualitative aspect of bottle-feeding
Proportion of milk consumed (volume of milk eaten relative to the expected volume)
Time frame: Measured in 10th minute of feeding and on the finish of the feeding - maximum in 40th minute of feeding (maximum time of feeding is 40 minutes)