Table 2.
Neonatal Factors Associated with Feeding Problems.
| Variable | Total group (n=80) M (SD) or (n) % or Median (IQ range) |
No feeding problems (n=62) M (SD) or n (%) or Median (IQ range) |
Feeding problems (n=18) M (SD) or n (%) or Median (IQ range) |
p* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EGA† at birth (weeks) | 26.6 (1.9) | 26.61(1.9) | 26.7 (1.7) | 0.68 | |
| Birth weight (g) | 937 (254) | 956 (257) | 872 (239) | 0.88 | |
| Female gender | 45 (56%) | 33 (53%) | 12 (67%) | 0.18 | |
| Caucasian | 45 (56%) | 36 (58%) | 9 (50%) | 0.96 | |
| Multiple births | 33 (41%) | 24 (39%) | 9 (50%) | 0.12 | |
| Prenatal drug exposure | 4 (5%) | 2 (3%) | 2 (11%) | 0.25 | |
| Days of ventilation | 2 (1–18) | 3 (1–14) | 2 (1–23) | 0.87 | |
| Days on CPAP‡ | 4 (1–11) | 3 (1–10) | 7 (3–20) | 0.75 | |
| Days on TPN§ | 18 (11–31) | 17 (11–32) | 20 (14–29) | 0.06 | |
| Days on NG/OG tube‖ | 72 (27) | 70 (23) | 81 (39) | 0.50 | |
| Patent ductus arteriosus | 43 (54%) | 32 (52%) | 11 (61%) | 0.25 | |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis | 5 (6%) | 4 (7%) | 1 (6%) | 0.87 | |
| Confirmed Sepsis | 26 (33%) | 19 (31%) | 7 (39%) | 0.40 | |
| Breast milk at discharge | 29 (36%) | 23 (37%) | 6 (33%) | 0.22 | |
| Average days visited¶ | 5.4 (1.4) | 5.4 (1.3) | 5.1 (1.6) | 0.07 | |
| Average days cuddled¶ | 2.8 (1.7) | 2.9 (1.8) | 2.3 (1.1) | 0.29 | |
| Average days skin-to-skin¶ | 0.78 (0.95) | 0.77 (0.98) | 0.85 (0.84) | 0.86 | |
| Day of life of first hold | 8.7 (8.6) | 8.5 (8.9) | 9.2 (8.0) | 0.27 | |
| Cerebral injury (n=76) | 15 (20%) | 14 (24%) | 1 (6%) | 0.52 | |
| Abnormal neonatal feeding (n=52)** | 22 (42%) | 17 (42%) | 5 (46%) | 0.67 | |
| NNNS (n=59) | |||||
| Habituation | 7.2 (2.1) | 7.3 (2.1) | 7.0 (2.2) | 0.49 | |
| Orientation | 3.3 (1.2) | 3.3 (1.2) | 3.3 (1.4) | 0.82 | |
| Handling | 0.68 (0.16) | 0.68 (0.17) | 0.68 (0.12) | 0.81 | |
| Quality of movement | 3.54 (0.77) | 3.48 (0.70) | 3.75 (1.01) | 0.61 | |
| Self-regulation | 4.37 (0.80) | 4.38 (0.78) | 4.35 (0.89) | 0.83 | |
| Suboptimal reflexes | 6.7 (2.1) | 6.7 (2.1) | 6.6 (2.3) | 0.73 | |
| Stress | 0.36 (0.12) | 0.36 (0.12) | 0.35 (0.09) | 0.64 | |
| Arousal | 4.18 (0.96) | 4.24 (0.99) | 3.93 (0.80) | 0.50 | |
| Hypertonia | 1.75 (1.17) | 1.70 (1.20) | 1.92 (1.08) | 0.87 | |
| Hypotonia | 0.69 (0.77) | 0.57 (0.68) | 1.17 (0.94) | 0.03 | |
| Asymmetry | 2.0 (2.1) | 2.0 (2.2) | 2.1 (1.7) | 0.84 | |
| Excitability | 5.6 (2.6) | 5.8 (2.6) | 4.8 (2.6) | 0.57 | |
| Lethargy | 6.8 (3.1) | 6.6 (3.1) | 7.7 (3.0) | 0.19 | |
*
Linear regression investigating associations with Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment Eating Subscale scores, using α<0.05;
†
Estimated gestational age;
‡
Continuous positive airway pressure;
§
Total parenteral nutrition;
‖
Nasogastric/orogastric;
¶
Average days throughout length of stay;
**
Abnormal feeding was determined by the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale.