Missed Oral Feeding Opportunities and Preterm Infants' Time to Achieve Full Oral Feedings and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge

Objective To examine the association of missed oral feeding opportunities among preterm infants with achievement of full oral feedings and length of hospitalization. Study Design A secondary analysis of clinical trial data was conducted. Study infants included in the analysis (N = 89) were randomized to one of four standardized feeding progression approaches; detailed records on all feedings were maintained. The proportion of oral feeding opportunities reported as missed due to factors unrelated to the infant's clinical condition was calculated for each infant. Results The proportion of missed oral feeding opportunities per infant ranged from 0 to 0.12; 30 infants experienced one or more missed oral feeding opportunity. Each 1% increase in the proportion of missed oral feeding opportunities extended the time to achieve full oral feeding by 1.45 days (p = 0.007) and time to discharge by 1.36 days (p = 0.047). Conclusion Preterm infants' missed oral feeding opportunities may adversely affect feeding outcomes and extend hospitalization.