Effect of Four Approaches to Oral Feeding Progression on Clinical Outcomes in Preterm Infants
Table 1
Description of four feeding approaches.
Approach name
PMA at oral feeding start
Manner of oral feeding progression
Group 1, early start/slow progressing experience
32 weeks
Offered 2 oral feedings per day for 3 days (days 1–3). Oral feedings offered per day increased by 1 feeding every other day until day 14 when offerings were 8 oral feedings each day (days 4-5, 3 oral feeds offered; days 6-7, 4 oral feeds offered; days 8-9, 5 oral feeds offered; days 10-11, 6 oral feeds offered; days 12-13, 7 oral feeds offered; day 14, 8 oral feeds offered).
Group 2, early start/maximum experience
32 weeks
Offered 8 oral feedings every day, at each of 8 scheduled daily feedings starting on day 1.
Group 3, late start/slow progressing experience
34 weeks
Offered 2 oral feedings per day for 3 days (days 1–3). Oral feedings offered per day increased by 1 feeding every other day until day 14 when offerings were 8 oral feedings each day (days 4-5, 3 oral feeds offered; days 6-7, 4 oral feeds offered; days 8-9, 5 oral feeds offered; days 10-11, 6 oral feeds offered; days 12-13, 7 oral feeds offered; day 14, 8 oral feeds offered).
Group 4, late start/maximum experience
34 weeks
Offered 8 oral feedings every day, at each of 8 scheduled daily feedings starting on day 1.
