Effect of Non-Nutritional Sucking on the Growth of Premature Infants Admitted To Shariati and Children Hospitals in Bandar Abbas

Introduction: Premature infants are born prior to the development of cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, and central nervous systems. A significant number of these infants experience oral feeding problems. In this study, we investigated the effects of empty breast and pacifier sucking on the growth of preterm infants in Children and Shariati Hospitals of Bandar Abbas. Methods: In this clinical trial, a total of 69 children were selected through the convenience sampling method and randomly divided into three groups. The first and second groups received oral stimulation with mothers’ breast and pacifier, respectively, twice a day (morning and evening) each lasting 15 minutes. A third group was selected as the control group with no intervention. Head circumference and weight were measured on a weekly and a daily basis, respectively, by one person. The length of stay and the number of days to start oral feeding with a syringe and then breast were also evaluated. The data were analyzed with SPSS 16 through descriptive methods and statistical tests and P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of the 69 infants enrolled in the study, 4 children did not complete it due to deterioration of conditions. After matching of the 3 groups, the number of days elapsed to syringe feeding was 14.5, 16.5, and 12.2 days in the first, second, and third groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them. The number of days elapsed to breast feeding was averagely 21.7, 22, and 20 days in the first, second, and third groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them. Conclusion: The results indicated that non-nutritional sucking through mother’s breast and pacifier does not affect the growth of premature infants.