Oral Feeding in Neonates with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Excerpt

With improving survival of very preterm neonates in India, the neonatal units are now challenged with long neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay and need of continuing care of these neonates. One of the challenges faced in the recuperative phase is the feeding method. Instead of bottle feeding, paladai, spoon and cup have been used successfully in India for feeding of preterm neonates who cannot yet suckle effectively at the breast [1]. However, neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) face difficulty in transiting from gavage to oral feeding because of ongoing respiratory instability, frequent co-existing neurological abnormality and clinical team’s concern about effect of oral feeding on rate of physical growth in the face of higher energy needs [2]. As a result, neonates with BPD are gavage fed for a longer duration after birth. …