Sucking swallowing coordination - Are late preterm neonates mature enough?

Dr Kanak Ramnani; Dr. Sharja Phuljhele; Dr. Prankur Pandey; Dr. Deendayal Nagar

Volume : VIII, Issue : IV, April - 2019

Sucking swallowing coordination - Are late preterm neonates mature enough?

Dr Kanak Ramnani, Dr. Sharja Phuljhele, Dr. Prankur Pandey, Dr. Deendayal Nagar

Abstract :

Introduction: Breast feeding is crucial for reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality.1 With the improvement of neonatal health services, preterm births contributes 84.3% of the total and late preterm contribute about 70%. In total late preterm birth account for 10% of total live births.2,3 This study aimed to describe the difficulties in Breast feeding in late preterm due to sucking swallowing incoordination. Objectives: – To assess the sucking swallowing coordination in healthy term and late preterm neonates. Design of study: – Prospective cohort study Study setting– This study was conducted at postnatal wards of Pt JNM Medical College and Dr B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Materials & methods: – Healthy term and late preterm neonates born to primi gravida mothers, who were fit, ready and counseled for feeding; and admitted during a period of one year (May 2016 to April 2017) were observed for attachment, eagerness to feed, efficacy of sucking and swallowing. Results: – We studied 177 term and 177 late preterms; the demographic and the social data of the mothers was similar for both the groups. After adequate feeding counseling and supervised feeding, there was a definite delay in the maturation of the swallowing efforts of the late preterms. Conclusion:–The study reveals that late preterm neonates are at increased risk of feeding difficulties so should be kept on regular follow up to avoid increase in morbidity and mortality.