Oral Motor Stimulation

Hi readers!

Premature infants before 32 weeks gestational age (weeks from conception to birth), are not developed enough to orally feed from breast or bottle. Before this premature age, without help, neonates cannot do suck-swallow-breathe coordination, which is a necessary component for being able to orally feed. Therefore, premature infants are fed by a nasogastric tube, which leads from their nose to their stomach, in order to be fed properly by nurses despite not knowing how to suck on a bottle.

However, it has been found that around 32 weeks gestational age, premature babies are developed enough where they can be taught how to suck (and therefore orally feed) through oral motor stimulation. Oral motor stimulation can be many things including stroking newborns’ cheeks, lips, gums, and/or tongue. Vibrating pacifiers have also been implemented in oral motor stimulation.

In a case study, for 15 minutes before each feeding for 10 days, occupational therapists provided oral motor stimulation to the experimental group out of the total 32 premature infants at 28 weeks gestational age. The OT researchers found that the experimental group developed sucking patterns to be able to suck-swallow-breathe and orally feed 10 days sooner than the babies in the control group, who did not receive oral motor stimulation before feedings. The babies who could orally feed 10 days sooner were also discharged 10 days sooner at a healthy weight than the babies who were not treated.

These results help show that oral motor stimulation does help premature infants orally feed sooner leading to healthy weight gain and quicker discharge from the hospital.

Thanks for reading,

Kayla

 Quote of the day: “Occupational Therapy: Develop, Recover, Maintain” –Unknown

Works Cited

Fucile, S., E. G. Gisel, and C. Lau. "Effect of an Oral Motor Stimulation Program on Sucking Skill Maturation of Premature Infants." Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 47.3 (2005): 153-59. Scopus. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.