A STUDY TO FIND OUT HOW ORAL STIMULATION HELPS IMPROVE FEEDING IN PREMATURE BABIES ADMITTED TO A SELECTED HOSPITAL AT REWA, MADHYA PRADESH

Abstract

Premature babies are born before completing 37 weeks of gestation. Due to immature development of their nervous and muscular systems, these babies often have difficulty in sucking, swallowing, and breathing in a coordinated way. Feeding problems are one of the most common challenges faced in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

According to the World Health Organization (2023), around 15 million babies are born preterm each year globally, and about 3.5 million of these are born in India. In Madhya Pradesh, preterm births are a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Many preterm infants rely on tube feeding for several days until they learn oral feeding.

Oral stimulation therapy is a gentle method that involves touching and massaging the baby’s lips, gums, and tongue to stimulate the oral muscles. It helps improve sucking strength and swallowing coordination, enabling premature infants to transition faster from tube to oral feeding. Nurses can perform this simple intervention as part of daily neonatal care.