Multisensory Early Oral Administration of Human Milk in Preterm Infants

Multisensory Early Oral Administration of Human Milk in Preterm Infants to Attenuate Early Life Toxic Stress on Epigenetic Modifications and Dysbiosis: Randomized Controlled Trial Pilot Study

The aims of this pilot are to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Multisensory early oral administration of human milk (M-MILK) intervention, recruitment, retention, and obtain data for sample size estimation. This study will advance nursing science and practice because it will inform our R01 RCT to examine the efficacy of M-MILK to attenuate adverse effects of early life toxic stress in preterm infants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• born between 22 to 34 weeks gestational age and receiving mother's own milk and/or donor milk.

Exclusion Criteria:

• receiving only formula, oral cavity defects, gastrointestinal defects, chromosomal abnormalities, severe cardiac defects that require surgery, or intraventricular hemorrhage grade III or IV