One of the challenges of modern neonatology is to identify the right and effective method that can improve oral feeding. Optimal feeding position may contribute to improving the quality and safety of bottle-feeding in premature infants.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the advantages of semi-elevated (SEP) with side-lying positioning (SLP) during bottle-feeding of preterm infants.

METHOD: The study included forty two neonates (n=42) born ≤34 weeks of gestational age. Four bottle-feeding sessions were tested in each of the newborns: two in the SEP and two in the SLP. The position for the first study was randomly assigned, then positioning changed after each feeding session. In one day, only two consecutive feeding sessions which were included to the study in order to minimize fatigability as a disrupting factor. The levels of saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) were measured as the parameters indicative of the newborn's physiological stability. The factors determining the qualitative aspect of feeding included the total time of declines of SpO2 ≤85%, level of the newborn's alertness according to the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), and the occurrence of choking episodes. The proportion of milk consumed (volume of milk eaten relative to the expected volume) and the duration of the feeding and feeding session were also recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• circulatory and respiratory stability;
• readiness for oral feeding according to each child's Speech-Language Pathologist assessment;
• prematurely born infants who were in the process of being transferred from enteral nutrition (or enteral nutrition + parenteral nutrition) to full oral feeding and were fed orally at least 4- 6 times within twenty-four hours;
• parents gave informed consent to participate their infant in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• disorders which could significantly affect the feeding course, such as cleft lip and/or palate, facial paralysis and/or congenital defects of the facial skeleton;
• the presence of detected congenital abnormalities and metabolic diseases; low Apgar score (less than 5 points at the 5th and 10th minute of the measurement);
• administered analgesics, anticonvulsants and sedatives;
• <72 hours from extubation prior the trial;
• parents refusal to participate in the study or when bottle-feeding was not the parental preference.