Improvement of outcome for infants of birth weight under 1,000 grams
Article Abstract:
In Victoria, Australia 351 of 115,973 infants born between 1979 and 1980 weighed less than 2.2 pounds (ELBW, extremely low birth weight). Between 1985 and 1987, 560 of 182,719 newborns had ELBW. Although the overall percentage of ELBW infants was similar for both periods, the rate of survival of ELBW infants improved dramatically over time. During the 1979 to 1980 period, the rate of survival of ELBW infants at two years of age was 25 percent. However, the two-year survival rate for ELBW infants born between 1985 and 1987 increased to 38 percent. In addition, the percentage of ELBW infants who remained free of neurological disabilities at two years of age increased during the study period. From 1979 to 1980, 13 percent of ELBW infants remained free of neurological disabilities at two years, while 26 percent of two-year-olds born with ELBW between 1985 and 1987 remained free of neurological problems. The improvement in the two-year survival rate of these infants may have resulted from improvements in perinatal care. Many ELBW infants require assisted ventilation (mechanical breathing assistance). Although ELBW infants represent less than 1 percent of all live births, these infants use more than 50 percent of the available ventilators. From 1980 to 1985, the resources available for providing assisted ventilation increased, and this may have contributed to improved survival and the lower rate of neurological disabilities. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Archives of Disease in Childhood
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-9888
Year: 1991
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Sucking on the 'emptied' breast: non-nutritive sucking with a difference
Article Abstract:
Premature infants can be difficult to feed. Because of weak ability to suck and other problems, they often may not be able to gain weight with breast-feeding. However, lack of maternal-infant contact, and maternal anxiety resulting from medical interventions such as tube feeding, are also likely to be detrimental. Tube feeding after partially successful breast-feeding can also lead to complications. To address these problems, an intervention was designed in which infants were allowed to suckle after the breast was emptied as much as possible, and the expressed milk was given by tube feeding after suckling. The effect of such a program on 16 infants was compared with 16 infants who were given intermittent tube feedings and who were cuddled but did not suckle until they were capable of regular breast-feeding. The weight at discharge and duration of hospital stay were similar for the two infant groups. Study at follow-up showed that infants who were in the intervention program had been exclusively breast-feeding for a longer period of time, and lactation was established in their mothers for a longer time. The study indicates that this type of program stimulates sucking in premature infants and promotes establishment of a good milk supply in their mothers. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Archives of Disease in Childhood
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-9888
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
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