Preterm and late preterm infants: their differences and breastfeeding

Abstract:PURPOSE:to verify the differences between preterm and late preterm infants in relation to the duration of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding causes and consequences of early weaning. Furthermore, the use of oxygen therapy and feeding tube, number of speech therapy sessions and length of hospital stay was observed.METHODS:exploratory and longitudinal field research. Eighty two (82) mothers of preterm babies participated in the study. The categorical data were summarized by absolute and relative frequency as compared to the total of patients in each studied group. Numerical data was summarized by average, median, standard deviation, minimum value and maximum value. Quantitative data was compared against the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test and the qualitative variables were compared against the test of equality of two proportions.RESULTS:there was statistical significance between the groups of preterm babies regarding the Apgar variables, hospitalization time, duration of use of the feeding tube, number of speech therapy sessions, duration of oxygen therapy and type of mechanical ventilation.CONCLUSION: this research showed that late preterm infants had lower usage time probe and oxygen therapy, fewer speech therapy sessions and shorter hospital stay, making indispensable a different view between the two groups of preterm infants.