Effect Of Oromotor Stimulation On Progression To Full Oral Feeding In Preterm Infants: One Year Hospital Based Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background and objectives One of the limiting factors for early discharge in preterm infants is their inability to feed sufficiently to achieve consistent weight gain. Feeding difficulty is one of the most significant issue faced by preterm infants. These are due to problems in their cardiorespiratory and central nervous system as well as the incomplete development of their oral structure. Difficulty in oral feeding leads to longer hospital stays and higher costs. There is a need for evidence based interventions that facilitate development of oral motor skills, leading to improved oral feeding, thus shortening hospital stays and lowering costs. The purpose of this study was to test the newly developed Premature Infant Oromotor Intervention (PIOMI), to determine whether the pre-feeding intervention would result in a shorter transition time from gavage to full oral feedings, weight gain and a shorter length of hospital stay.