What is ‘successful feeding’ on the neonatal intensive care unit? A psychologist’s perspective

Reissland, N.; Lewis, S.; Lal, M.; Patterson, L.

Abstract

This paper discusses studies of feeding preterm infants on the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with a view to defining ‘success in feeding’. The term ‘successful feeding’ is used regularly but without any universal consensus of specific parameters entailing success. The current paper contributes to the debate of the psychological impact of feeding on the NICU in relation to parent, nurse and infant feeding interaction, centring on infant behavioural development in the context of feeding. We analyse the published literature covering a wide range of methodological approaches including randomised controlled trials and observational studies. Four key themes are identified in terms of what contributes to success in feeding: infant developmental maturity, mother-infant feeding interactions, nursing interventions, and comparison of parental and health care professionals’ engagement during infant feeding practice. We conclude that the emphasis of the meaning of successful feeding has changed from a mainly medical focus to include a psychological perspective.

Citation

Reissland, N., Lewis, S., Lal, M., & Patterson, L. (2016). What is ‘successful feeding’ on the neonatal intensive care unit? A psychologist’s perspective. MIDIRS midwifery digest, 26(2), 231-235

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 18, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 1, 2016
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 19, 2017
• Journal: MIDIRS midwifery digest
• Print ISSN: 0961-5555
• Electronic ISSN: 2631-8814
• Publisher: MIDIRS
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 231-235
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1381570
• Publisher URL: https://www.midirs.org/