Non-nutritive sucking combined with a step-by-step oral feeding regimen shortens the total oral feeding cycle in premature infants

In order to improve the feeding of premature infants <32 weeks of gestation, a complete oral feeding intervention program is provided for premature infants, which combined the evaluation of oral feeding readiness, the evaluation of oral feeding performance, non-nutritional sucking intervention and progressive feeding program. Premature infants will be assessed 12 times a day before feedings using the Feeding Preparation Scale.

Assess the premature infants by using the Feeding Preparation Scale. If the premature infant does not meet the oral feeding standard, let the premature infant use the non-nutritive sucking for 3 minutes before the nasal feeding; if the premature infant meets the oral feeding standard, use the non-nutritive sucking for 3 minutes, and refer to the feeding schedule for the premature infant. The whole intervention stops until the premature infant achieves the full oral feeding. Length of time required for complete oral feeding of premature infants is compared between the intervention group and the control group to evaluate the effect of the complete oral feeding intervention program on improving the feeding of premature infants <32 weeks of gestation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Gestational age <32w;
• Admit within 72 hours of birth;
• The guardian signs the informed consent;
• OI (oxygenation index >300)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Newborns with severe congenital malformations or various chromosomal diseases, genetic metabolic diseases, severe neurological diseases;
• Newborns who die during the study;
• Newborns who drop out of the study;
• Newborns who have NEC during hospitalization