Feeding Imprinting: The Extreme Test Case of Premature Infants Born With Very Low Birth Weight. Issue 5 (11th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suberi, Moriya; Morag, Iris; Strauss, Tzipora; Geva, Ronny
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 89:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 1553
• Page End: 1566
• Publication Date: 2017-08-11
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12923
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : Feeding imprinting, considered a survival‐enabling process, is not well understood. Infants born very preterm, who first feed passively, are an effective model for studying feeding imprinting. Retrospective analysis of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) records of 255 infants ( M gestational age = 29.98 ± 1.64) enabled exploring the notion that direct breastfeeding (DBF) during NICU stay leads to consumption of more mother's milk and earlier NICU discharge. Results showed that DBF before the first bottle feeding is related to shorter transition into oral feeding, a younger age of full oral feeding accomplishment and earlier discharge. Furthermore, the number of DBF meals before first bottle feeding predicts more maternal milk consumption and improved NICU outcomes. Improved performance in response to initial exposure to DBF at the age of budding feeding abilities supports a feeding imprinting hypothesis.