Examining the Effect of Bottle Angle on Milk Drip Rate Using the Dr. Brown's ^® Zero-Resistance ^® Specialty Feeding System

ObjectiveExamine the drip rate from the Dr. Brown's^® Zero-Resistance^® Specialty Feeding System without compression across 8 nipple levels and 3 angles.DesignCross-sectional.SettingLaboratory.InterventionsThe drip rate of the Dr. Brown's^® Zero-Resistance^® Specialty Feeding System was assessed with the bottle positioned at 0°, 30°, and 45° angles across 8 bottle nipple levels: Ultra-Preemie™, Preemie Flow™, Level T, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and Y-Cut.Main Outcome Measure(s)Milk volume in millimeters extracted per minute (mL/min) for each bottle nipple level and angle configuration. A one-way analysis of variance was conducted to compare the milk drip rate across 3 angles for each bottle nipple level.ResultsThe mean drip rate was 0.0 mL/min across all nipple levels when the bottle was positioned at a 0° angle. No milk drip was observed at any angle for the Y-Cut nipple. Milk drip was observed when the bottle angle increased to 30° and 45° for nipple levels Ultra-Preemie™ to Level 4 ranging from 1.3 mL/min up to 19.4 mL/min.ConclusionsMilk freely drips from the Dr. Brown's^® Zero-Resistance^® Specialty Feeding System when positioned at 30° and 45° angles for nipples Ultra-Preemie™ through Level 4, putting infants at risk for aspiration. Clinicians should recommend caregivers position the Specialty Feeding System at a 0° angle when infants pause to breathe.