The Effect of Oral Massage on Physiological and Behavioral Indicators, Frequency and Duration of Independent Oral Feeding In Premature Infants: A Randomizde Clinical Trial

Recent advances in the field of intensive care have dramatically improved the survival of preterm born infants. The infants who born before 34 weeks of gestational age often have an immature or absent coordination sucking- swallowing and breathe pattern lead to feeding difficulties. In order to improve the efficacy of oral feeding in preterm infants, effective early interventions are needed. The purpose of current study is the effect of oral massage on physiological and behavioral indicators, frequency and duration of independent oral feeding in preterm infants.

In this study forty-Eight Preterm infants, between 28-32 weeks of gestational age who were hospitalized in NICU were randomly divided in two groups; oral massage group and controls. Newborns in oral massage group received, pri and intraoral massages, twice per day, each time for 10 minutes before gavages at least for 10 consecutive days. Outcomes have been assessed and recorded in both groups.

Duration and frequency of independent oral feeding that was assessed for 5 day was significant higher in massage group (p<0.001) (p>0.002). There was no difference in Oxygen saturation, heart rate and behavioral state during oral feeding between two groups.

Oral massage can increase both the duration and frequency of independent oral feedings in preterm infants. However it has no effect on physiological and behavioral parameters during independent oral feeding development.