PURPOSE: To assess the offer of the maternal breast in preterm babies hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital and Maternity Neomater, linking this datum with the manner to feed them (cup or bottle) in the absence of the mother, and the speech-language stimulation carried out. METHODS: Forty-eight newborn preterm infants with gestational age less than or equal to 36 6/7 weeks, weighting <2500 grams and with stable respiratory pattern participated in this study. The newborns were divided into two groups: group A (35 newborns) with bottle feeding, and group B (13 newborns) with cup feeding. Speech-Language Pathology monitoring was organized in Stage 1 (non-nutritive sucking in "gloved finger" or "empty breast" concomitant with enteral feeding); Stage 2 (oral feeding offer - maternal breast, bottle or cup - with complement provided by enteral feeding); Stage 3 (exclusive oral feeding offer - maternal breast, bottle or cup); Stage 4 (effective breastfeeding offer). A comparison was carried out between the groups regarding the number of days in each phase. Data were statistically analyzed using the independent t-test, with significance level of 5%. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups for any of the studied parameters. Breast feeding was equally accepted by newborns in the cup and the bottle groups. CONCLUSION: Breast feeding can be equally accepted, regardless the alternative feeding form used (cup or bottle), provided that there is adequate Speech-Language Pathology monitoring and encouragement to breastfeeding at an early age.
Breast feeding; Bottle feeding; Intensive care, neonatal; Diet; Artificial feeding; Feeding methods; Infant, newborn; Premature
