The Effect of Suckling and Swallowing Exercises During the Transition to Oral Feeding in Premature Infants: Randomized Controlled Study

Underdeveloped oral structures of preterm infants cause feeding problems. Therefore, the development of sucking reflexes of premature babies should be supported. Investigating the effect of suck-swallow exercises during the transition to oral feeding in premature infants was the scope of this study. This randomized controlled trial study was conducted in the NICU of a public hospital in Istanbul. The study sample consisted of 82 premature infants. Of these infants, 41 were assigned to the intervention group and 41 to the control group. Study data were collected using the Premature Infant Data Collection Form and Early Feeding Skills Assessment Tool. Throughout the study, preterm infants in the intervention group (n = 41) were given suck-swallow exercises for 12 minutes once a day before feeding for 14 days. SPSS22 was used to analyze the data. Male infants constituted 54.9% of the sample group. At enrollment, the gestational age of all infants was 34-37 weeks. Birth weight was 1501-2000 grams in 35.4% of the infants. Evaluation of the 5 sub-parameters of the Early Feeding Assessment Tool revealed that the post-test scores for respiratory regulation, oral motor function, swallowing coordination, feeding participation, and physiological stability were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.005). The results of the study showed that sucking and swallowing exercises applied to premature infants improved oral feeding skills and in this context, the use of sucking and swallowing exercises in neonatal intensive care units is recommended. NCT06371443.