O’Rourke, B., Fuller, K., Parker, L., Moore, T. (2022).
December 2022Journal of Neonatal Nursing
DOI:10.1016/j.jnn.2022.11.014
Abstract
The objective of this clinical practice change was to provide positive oral experiences to premature infants by offering droplets of human milk or formula orally during gavage feedings, subsequently referred to as the Milk Drop Intervention. Method: This pre- and post-implementation quasi-experimental study included a total of 198 premature infants born at 24 to 33 + 6 weeks’ gestation. Outcomes measured included average length of stay and adjusted cost differences. Parental perception and comments were also recorded. Results: Nine of ten intervention groups had a shorter average length of stay, with the intervention group overall having a significantly shorter average length of stay (p = 0.004). Adjusted cost savings for the intervention group was over $663,000. The intervention also provided an opportunity for parents to observe their infant’s response to the milk drops, which formed a foundation to understanding cue-based feeding. Conclusion: Offering milk drops during gavage feedings is a simple, low-cost, intervention that may provide positive oral experiences for the smallest and most fragile of premature infants.