| Background & Aim: Feeding intolerance is a major concern in preterm infants. Facilitate
milk tolerance in infants is one of the interventions that nurses can exploit in order to improve
the feeding tolerance in preterm infants.
Materials & Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 60 preterm infants with the
gestational age of 28-32 weeks hospitalized in the NICU. Samples were randomly divided
into two groups. In the intervention group, in addition to the routine light reduction
care(dragging the wards curtains, turning off the extra lights and placing a thick cover on the
incubator), an insulation cover was also placed over the faces of infants, which in the control
group only the routine light reduction care of ward was applied. The study lasted for 6 days
and during the days of intervention, the regurgitation and feeding tolerance rate of infants in
two groups were assessed and recorded with a checklist. The data were entered into SPSS18
and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: Demographic characteristics of premature infants were not significantly different in
both groups by applying more light reduction in the NICU, there was a significant difference
in the amount of milk intake in newborns (p=0.002), and the average amount of milk
remaining in the stomach of the infant (p=0.001) in each meal of infants in the intervention
period.
Conclusion: The results show the positive effect of light reduction on feeding tolerance and
reduction of residual milk volume in premature infant, which can lead to appropriate to
feeding infant. |