Table 2.

Feeding in SCBU (special care baby unit) and NG (naso-gastric) tube feeds

SCBU admission
Admitted to SCBU		34/61 (56%)
Admitted to SCBU due to problems with feeding		10/34 (29%)
Admitted to SCBU for any other reason*		24/34 (71%)
Hypoxia/respiratory distress/PPHN		17/34 (50%)
Jaundice		7/34 (21%)
Cardiac/cardiac monitoring		4/34 (12%)
Infection		4/34 (12%)
Prematurity		3/34 (9%)
Polycythaemia		2/34 (6%)
Other		7/34 (21%)
Length of SCBU stay (weeks)		Median 2 (IQR 2, 4)
Feeding in SCBU and NG tube feeds
SCBU admission affected ability of mother to feed baby as she would have liked		23/34 (68%)
Shown how to express milk in SCBU		29/34 (85%)
Felt supported to express milk in SCBU		27/30 (90%)
Had NG tube feeds		31/31* (100%)
Required NG tube feeds due to problems with feeding		12/31 (39%)
Medical reason for NG tube feeds†	Prematurity	2/19 (11%)
	Dehydration/hydration	2/19 (11%)
	Ventilation	2/19 (11%)
	Respiratory problems	8/19 (42%)
	Jaundice/polycythaemia	4/19 (21%)
	Vomiting or surgical abdomen	4/19 (21%)
Length of time NG tube fed	<3 days	5/31 (16%)
	>3 to 7 days	6/31 (19%)
	>1 to 2 weeks	8/31 (26%)
	>2 to 4 weeks	6/31 (19%)
	>1 to 2 months	5/31 (16%)
	>2 months	1/31 (3%)
Type of NG tube feeds given	Only expressed breast milk	10/31 (32%)
	Only infant formula	2/31 (7%)
	Expressed breast milk and infant formula	19/31 (61%)
Feeds stopped and intravenous fluids given		11/34 (32%)
Length of time on intravenous fluids	<3 days	2/9 (22%)
	>3 to 7 days	4/9 (44%)
	>7 days to 1 month	3/9 (33%)

*Due to an issue with branching of the questions at least 31 infants were NG tube fed but there may have been more. Where they were branched away, people have been counted as missing, so the denominator is 31.

†Coded from open response.

PPHN, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.