Evaluation of orofacial characteristics and breastfeeding in preterm newborns before hospital discharge

ABSTRACT: Purpose: to evaluate oral characteristics and breastfeeding in premature newborns before hospital discharge and verify the relationship between the oral sensory motor system and breastfeeding. Methods: this was a cross-sectional, quantitative and descriptive study. Data collection was conducted from June to October 2014 and was carried out in three stages: Data collection from medical records, the clinical assessment of the oral sensory motor system and the evaluation of breastfeeding. A convenience sample was obtained from the intensive care unit of a university hospital in Porto Alegre. The inclusion criteria were: prematurity; receiving speech therapy, involvement in the hospital discharge process; recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding; have a free and informed consent form signed by a legal guardian. Results: the sample consisted of 26 subjects, of which 6 individuals were excluded. Most of the characteristics of the oral sensory motor system were adequate and most of the categories evaluated in breastfeeding were close to the maximum score. It was found that premature infants with an alert state of consciousness showed better mother / newborn positioning during breastfeeding (p = 0.043). It was observed that higher corrected gestational ages were associated with better final scores in evaluation of the oral sensory motor system (rs = 0.512, p = 0.021). Conclusions: the study elucidated some characteristics of the oral sensory motor system and of breastfeeding. Additionally, relationships were found between the oral sensory motor system and breastfeeding in premature infants.