Relation Between Milk Temperature and Feeding Tolerance in Premature Infants

Objectives : To evaluate the effect of milk temperature either at warm temperatures closer to freshly expressed breast milk versus at room temperature on feeding tolerance in premature infants. Background : Feeding intolerance is frequent among preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units. It has several symptoms and is attributed to many factors including milk temperature. Patients and methods : This prospective cohort study included 70 preterm neonates who were divided into two groups: group I included 35 preterm neonates fed with milk at 22 e 24 (cid:1) C, closer to room temperature and group II included 35 preterm neonates fed with milk at 32 e 34 (cid:1) C, closer to freshly expressed breast milk. All the included neonates underwent full history taking, examination, and laboratory investigations. Results : Apnea and antire fl ux treatment were statistically decreased in group II who were fed milk at body temperature ( P ¼ 0.01). However, the difference regarding feeding tolerance between the two groups was statistically insigni fi cant ( P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that the difference between the subgroups was also statistically insigni fi cant ( P > 0.05). Conclusion : Feeding preterm infants milk at body temperature versus room temperature milk had signi fi cantly reduced episodes of apnea and antire fl ux treatment.