Impact of colostrum combined with non-nutritive sucking in non-invasive ventilated very low birth weight preterm infant

Feeding intolerance is a common challenge in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants undergoing non-invasive ventilation (NIV). While colostrum and non-nutritive sucking (NNS) have shown promise in improving feeding outcomes individually, their combined effect remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of colostrum administration alongside NNS on the feeding status of VLBW preterm infants receiving NIV. This retrospective observational study was conducted in the NICU at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from June 2020 to June 2022. Feeding outcomes analyzed included initiation and complete feeding times, birth weight recovery, total enteral nutrition time, incidence of feeding intolerance, and length of hospital stay. A total of 163 VLBW infants on NIV were included, categorized into four groups: control (n = 43), colostrum (n = 40), NNS (n = 42), and colostrum + NNS (n = 38). The colostrum + NNS group experienced significantly shorter times to initiate oral feeding (217.15 ± 1.20 days vs. 222.10 ± 1.15 days, P < 0.05), achieve complete oral feeding (233.15 ± 1.55 days vs. 241.20 ± 1.83 days, P < 0.05), regain birth weight (8.01 ± 1.68 vs. 11.21 ± 2.57 days, P < 0.05), and reach total enteral nutrition (11.09 ± 2.14 vs. 15.77 ± 2.30 days, P < 0.05). The incidence of feeding intolerance was lower (23.68% vs. 41.86%, P < 0.05), and hospital stay was reduced (48.13 ± 11.76 vs. 57.42 ± 14.94 days, P < 0.05). The combination of colostrum and NNS may improve feeding outcomes in VLBW infants receiving NIV, leading to earlier feeding milestones and reduced feeding intolerance. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and assess long-term effects.