Author: Hawdon, JM, Beauregard, N, Slattery J, & Kennedey, G
Source: Developmental. Medicine and Child Neurology, (2000), 42: 235-239.
This study looked at 35 infants (average age at birth was 34 weeks gestation) admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over a 3-month period in hopes of understanding what leads up to a feeding problem. If therapists and doctors knew what to look for, it could help identify babies with feeding difficulty earlier. The authors saw that 14 of the 35 babies had difficulty eating when evaluated at 36 ? 40 weeks gestational age (full term is considered 40 weeks). It appears that babies with the most severe conditions are the most at risk for feeding problems, many had neurological (brain related) or breathing disorders. Infants who had a late start to oral feeding were also affected.
The authors stated that the feeding problems might be caused by factors that were not yet known such as subtle neurological problems or gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) which the authors felt was not always recognized. Another point was that it is sometimes difficult for nursing or medical staff to identify babies with disordered feeding patterns and that an experienced therapist and dietician is crucial for the long term help that these infants need.
Compared with babies who have normal feeding evaluations, infants with disorganized or dysfunctional feeding were 6 times more likely to vomit and 3 times more likely to cough when offered solid foods at 6 months of age. At 12 months, these babies were also found to have trouble with tolerating lumpy textures and had difficulty enjoying mealtime. Feeding problems can lead to ?failure to thrive? and distress for the families after discharge from the NICU. The authors make suggestions for ways to prevent their incidence.
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