NCT05651035

Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding: Impact on Preterm Infants' Physiology and Feeding Performance

Effects of Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding as the Initial Oral Feeding on Physiological Parameters and Feeding Performance in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (actual)
• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 32 Weeks – 36 Weeks
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding on the infant's test weight and physiological characteristics (oxygen saturation and heart rate) in preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the transition to oral feeding. The main question it aims to answer are: • Is there a difference in test weight and physiological parameters between the infants in whom the first oral feeding was performed by the mother and the infants in whom the first oral feeding was performed by the intensive care unit nurse with a bottle? Researchers will compare the breastfed group with the bottle-fed group to see if there are differences in test weight and physiological parameters.

Detailed description

In the pre-feeding stage of the research, the parents of the preterms included in the sample will be met and informed about the research. Written and verbal consent will be obtained from parents who agreed to participate in the study. "Preterm Infants Information Form" will be filled by the researcher before feeding and "Feeding Monitoring Form" will be filled during feeding. By randomization, it will be determined which of the experimental and control groups the preterm infant will be assigned to. It will be ensured that the interventions that will affect the vital signs of the preterms in both groups before feeding are not applied. Oxygen saturation and heart rate will be monitored for 30 minutes before, during and after feeding for all groups. Preterms in both groups will be dressed in clean and dry diapers by cleaning their bottoms before feeding, and will be weighed naked with a digital baby scale by removing their clothes. Weighing the preterms with an electronic precision balance before and after feeding - the test weighing - will be used to measure the amount of milk the preterm is expressing from the breast or bottle. The preterm will then be fed loosely wrapped in a cotton blanket. If the oxygen saturation level of all preterm infants falls below 90% during feeding, it will be considered desaturated and the feeding will be stopped. The preterm infants will continue to be fed when the oxygen saturation is ≥ 90% and the heart rate is 120-160/min. Feeding will be limited to a total of 30 minutes for infants in both groups, including rest intervals, and will not take longer. When the feeding is complete, preterms in both groups will be weighed naked without changing the diaper under the feeding process. It will be ensured that interventions that may affect the vital signs of all preterms included in the study are not applied when feeding is completed. The oxygen saturation and heart rate of the preterms in both groups will be monitored for 30 minutes after the feeding is completed. When feeding is complete, preterms in both groups will be placed on the same mother's breast in the right lateral position to facilitate gastric emptying.

Conditions

• Preterm
• Breastfeeding
• Bottlefeeding
• Premature

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	oral feeding	In experimental group infants: Preterms in this group will be breastfed by their own mother. In control group infants: Preterms in this group will be fed by the researcher by putting the baby's own mother's milk in the bottle. During feeding, the preterm will be placed on the lap by the researcher in a standing position on the same mother's breast, and will be given a raised side-lying position. In this position, the preterm's head and body will be elevated 45-60 degrees with the help of a small pillow. While the researcher will support the preterm's head, neck and shoulder with one hand, he will control the bottle with the other hand. By touching the preterm's nipple to the preterm's lips, the preterm will be prepared for feeding, and the bottle will be placed in the baby's mouth with the mouth opening and the tongue lowering. During feeding, stimulating movements such as pushing the bottle back and forth in the mouth, which will lead the newborn to suck faster, will not be made.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-12-15
• Primary completion: 2023-12-31
• Completion: 2023-12-31
• First posted: 2022-12-14
• Last updated: 2025-04-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)