Abstract:

Objective
To explore the feasibility of non-nutritive sucking combined with early micro-feeding to reduce feeding intolerance in preterm infants.
Methods
A total of 76 premature infants born in our hospital from March 2014 to August 2015 were divided into the control group and the observation group,each group consisting of 38 cases. Children in the both groups were given warm-keeping and early micro-feeding,and the observation group was added with non-nutritive sucking on the basis of the control group. During the micro-feeding,the premature infants were given no-hole rubble nipple to suck for 5 minutes respectively at the early,middle and late stage,8 times a day,until the sucking reflex and swallowing function were developed. The following indexes were observed：the disappearance time of gastric retention,of gastroesophageal reflux and of abdominal distension,the length of parenteral nutrition,the length of achieving total gastrointestinal nutrition,and the milk volume at the end of the second week as well as the days of recovering to birth body mass.
Results
The disappearance time of gastric retention,of gastroesophageal reflux and of abdominal distension were significantly less in observation group than that in control group,and the difference was statistical (P<0.05). The length of parenteral nutrition，the length of achieving total gastrointestinal nutrition and the days of recovering to birth body mass were significantly lower in observation group than in control group,while the milk volume at the end of the second week was significantly higher,the difference being statistical (P<0.05).
Conclusion
The therapy of early micro-feeding combined with non-nutritive sucking is feasible in the treatment of premature infants with feeding intolerance,which can rapidly relieve gastric retention,gastrointestinal reflux and abdominal distension,and can also help to recover the body mass to normal,so it is worth popularizing.

Key words: Necrotic enterocolitis, Early micro-feeding, Non-nutritive sucking, Infant,premature