Nonnutritive Sucking Before Oral Feeding of Preterm Infants in Turkey: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background: The use of a pacifier is recommended to support sucking reflex during transition from gavage feeding to oral feeding and ensure readiness for feeding. Purpose: A randomized controlled experimental design was used to determine the effect of a pacifier given before feeding on physiological characteristics and feeding performance in preterm infants initially fed orally. Design and methods: The data were obtained from preterm infants (N = 72) born before 31st gestational week, who were admitted to Newborn Intensive Care Unit of a training and research hospital affiliated with Ministry of Health between January 2017-July 2018 andmet the case selection criteria. Heart rates, oxygen saturation levels and feeding performances of preterm infants in both groups before, during, and after feeding were compared. Results: Heart rates of preterm infants in the experimental group were statistically significantly lower (Experimental: 139.64 +/- 10.16; Control: 149.31 +/- 8.40; p < 0.01) and their oxygen saturation levels were higher (Experimental: 97.22 +/- 2.22; Control: 96.33 +/- 1.93; p < 0.05). Feeding efficiency rates (Experimental: 1.94 +/- 1.19; Control: 0.69 +/- 0.34; p < 0.01) and the percentage of food intake (Experimental: 89.5 +/- 23.93; Control: 70.86 +/- 27.41; p < 0.01) of newborns in the experimental group were statistically significantly higher and their feeding duration was shorter (Experimental: 10.58 +/- 8.29; Control: 16.14 +/- 8.31; p < 0.01). Conclusions: It was determined that a pacifier given before feeding is effective on regulating physiological parameters and supporting feeding performance in preterm infants. Practice implications: The use of a pacifier in the first transition to oral feeding in preterm infants supports their sucking reflex, calms them down, and ensures the readiness for feeding. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.