<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20212504.d-22-00008_s_006"><h3>Background</h3>
<p>The quality and safety of bottle-feeding in premature infants can be improved by optimal positioning. This study analysed the advantages of side-lying position (SLP) and semielevated position (SEP) during bottle-feeding in premature infants.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20212504.d-22-00008_s_007"><h3>Material and methods</h3>
<p>A total of 42 neonates (n=42) born ≤34 weeks of gestational age were included in the study. Four feeding sessions—two in SLP and two in SEP— were analysed for each newborn. The level of saturation (SpO<sub>2</sub>) and heart rate, which are the parameters assessing the physiological stability, were measured in the studied newborns. The other factors that were examined to determine the quality of feeding included the total time of decline of SpO<sub>2</sub> to ≤85%, level of the newborn’s alertness measured using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, and the frequency of choking episodes. The proportion of milk consumed (volume of milk consumed relative to the volume expected) and the feeding duration as well as the total time of feeding session were recorded.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20212504.d-22-00008_s_008"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>SLP was safer in terms of the frequency of choking episodes. Choking episodes were more frequently observed with feeding in SEP (<italic>p</italic>&lt;0.001). Moreover, the proportion of milk consumed by infants was statistically significantly higher in SLP (<italic>p</italic>&lt;0.046) compared to SEP. No significant differences in the other tested parameters were noted in infants fed in SLP and infants fed in SEP.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jmotherandchild.20212504.d-22-00008_s_009"><h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>This study demonstrated that SLP is effective in reducing the number of choking episodes during feeding. The proportion of milk consumed was better when the neonates were fed in SLP.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Background
The quality and safety of bottle-feeding in premature infants can be improved by optimal positioning. This study analysed the advantages of side-lying position (SLP) and semielevated position (SEP) during bottle-feeding in premature infants.
Material and methods
A total of 42 neonates (n=42) born ≤34 weeks of gestational age were included in the study. Four feeding sessions—two in SLP and two in SEP— were analysed for each newborn. The level of saturation (SpO2) and heart rate, which are the parameters assessing the physiological stability, were measured in the studied newborns. The other factors that were examined to determine the quality of feeding included the total time of decline of SpO2 to ≤85%, level of the newborn’s alertness measured using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, and the frequency of choking episodes. The proportion of milk consumed (volume of milk consumed relative to the volume expected) and the feeding duration as well as the total time of feeding session were recorded.
Results
SLP was safer in terms of the frequency of choking episodes. Choking episodes were more frequently observed with feeding in SEP (p<0.001). Moreover, the proportion of milk consumed by infants was statistically significantly higher in SLP (p<0.046) compared to SEP. No significant differences in the other tested parameters were noted in infants fed in SLP and infants fed in SEP.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that SLP is effective in reducing the number of choking episodes during feeding. The proportion of milk consumed was better when the neonates were fed in SLP.

Advantages of side-lying position. A comparative study of positioning during bottle-feeding in preterm infants (≤34 weeks GA)

Journal of Mother and Child

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Background
The quality and safety of bottle-feeding in premature infants can be improved by optimal positioning. This study analysed the advantages of...

Advantages of side-lying position. A comparative study of positioning during bottle-feeding in preterm infants (≤34 weeks GA)

Article Category: Original Research

Published Online: Jun 09, 2022

Page range: 269 - 276

Received: Jan 28, 2022

Accepted: Mar 12, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212504.d-22-00008

Keywords
premature, oral feeding, positioning, side-lying position (SLP)

© 2022 Anna Raczyńska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Advantages of side-lying position. A comparative study of positioning during bottle-feeding in preterm infants (≤34 weeks GA)

Article Category: Original Research

Published Online: Jun 09, 2022

Page range: 269 - 276

Received: Jan 28, 2022

Accepted: Mar 12, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212504.d-22-00008

Keywordspremature, oral feeding, positioning, side-lying position (SLP)

© 2022 Anna Raczyńska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
premature, oral feeding, positioning, side-lying position (SLP)