Oral Support Is Effective to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding in Infants Born Small for Gestational Age.

AIM: This study evaluated if oral support with techniques to support the infant's jaw to promote sucking could improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate in full-term infants born small-for-gestational-age (SGA).

METHODS

This was an observational study with a prospective cohort and a historical control. SGA infants born in 2023-2024 who received oral support were compared to those born in 2020-2021 who did not. The primary outcome was the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 7-10 days of life. Secondary outcomes were the exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge, the maximum weight loss, the time to regain birthweight, the occurrence of transient and/or persistent hypoglycaemia and the length of hospitalisation.

RESULTS

We analysed 146 infants: 73 received oral support and 73 did not. Infants who received oral support had an exclusive breastfeeding rate when returning to the hospital at day 7-10 that was significantly higher than infants who did not (54.8% vs. 37.0%, p = 0.03). Exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, at a median (interquartile range) age of 3 (2-4) days, was similar between groups. No differences were found in the secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Oral support appeared useful in promoting exclusive breastfeeding in full-term SGA infants. Further research could assess if the intervention maintained exclusive breastfeeding over time.