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Purpose To identify infant and maternal characteristics associated with the pace of progression from the first oral feeding to complete oral feeding. Subjects One hundred forty-two stable premature infants who were fully or partially gavage feeding immediately after birth (29-34 weeks gestational age at birth). Design Exploratory secondary analysis. Method Data are from an ongoing randomized clinical trial of a developmental maternally-administered intervention (H-HOPE) for mother-infant dyads at high social-environmental risk. Main Outcome Measures Oral feeding progression (transition time from the first attempt to complete oral feeding). Sample Characteristics The convenience sample of preterm infants consisted of 48.6% male infants; the mean gestational age (GA) at birth was 32.4 weeks and mean birthweight was 1787 grams; African American mothers (47.9%, n = 80) and Latina mothers (52.1%, n = 83). Principle Results Multivariable linear regression results showed that, on average, the number of days for infants of Latina mothers to achieve complete oral feeding was 2.43 days longer than for infants of African-American mothers. In addition, lower birthweight and lower postmenstrual age (PMA) at first oral feeding were associated with longer feeding progression. Higher infant morbidity was correlated with longer feeding progression. Conclusion Infants with Latina mothers, lower birthweight, lower PMAs at first oral feeding, and higher morbidity scores had a longer transition from first to complete oral feeding. Identification of infants at risk for delayed transition from first to complete oral feeding may allow for the development and testing of appropriate interventions that support the transition from gavage to complete oral feeding.

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