Variation in Oxygen Saturation by Pulse Oximetry During and After Breastfeeding Among Healthy Term Neonates During Early Postnatal Life at Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

BackgroundBreastfeeding plays a vital role in a newborn's life as it increases its chances of survival and is considered the optimal nutritional source for newborns. All newborns must have developed the suck, swallow, and breathe coordination in order to safely breastfeed. Studies conducted on breastfeeding in healthy term babies are limited as most studies available on breastfeeding focus on preterm babies. Full-term healthy infants can also present with feeding difficulties but due to a lack of studies conducted on them, there is no existing oxygen saturation pattern for healthy term infants. Thus, our study is designed to observe variations in the oxygen saturation of healthy term infants during breastfeeding. MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital from March 2021 to April 2021. Using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique, 60 neonates were enrolled in the study. The baby was monitored for heart rate and oxygen saturation before, during, and after feeding. ResultsThe oxygen saturation levels were lower during feed while it was significantly high after a feed (p < 0.001). No significant variation was seen between saturation before feeding and during feed (0.635) or before feeding with after feed (p = 0.108). Maximum oxygen saturation drop was observed in 21% at the first minute and cumulatively 73% of neonates within the first five minutes of feeding. Heart rate remained in the physiological range (120-160 b/min) in 85%, above 160 in just 11.6% of the babies. ConclusionEffective breastfeeding is crucial for the growth and development of every infant, which is why there is a need to have an understanding of how infants develop suck, swallow, and breathe coordination. Having breathing and sucking patterns for infants can help medical personal identify when an infant is having difficulty with oral feeding and suggest safer, more effective methods of breastfeeding.

Evaluation of Pulse Rate, Oxygen Saturation, and Respiratory Effort after Different Types of Feeding Methods in Preterm Newborns

“…SPO2 was lower during breastfeeding than after feeding, and HR was higher during breastfeeding than before feeding. Both were comparable between before and after breastfeeding [ 14 ]. In contrast to observations made by the above study, we observed significant rise in SPO2 and drop in PR immediately after feed as compared to before feed in preterm newborns.…”

“…We assume that each method of feeding has different effects on these parameters because of the nature of the feeding method and level of maturity of the cardiorespiratory, central, and peripheral nervous system affecting coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Some studies have identified changes in heart rate (HR), SPO2, and RR before, during, and after breast feeding, cup-feeding, and bottle feeding in term and late preterm newborns [ 14 – 16 ]. These findings need to be studied further in preterm newborns for the above mentioned different feeding methods when used alone or in combination.…”

Oxygen Saturation Profiles in Healthy Term Infants in Early Postnatal Life

“…[1][2][3][4] Term infants admitted to the NICU with nonrespiratory or cardiac concerns, such as hypoglycemia and jaundice, are also typically monitored with continuous pulse oximetry. However, healthy term infants are known to have variability in oxygen saturations in early postnatal life, 5 and there is limited evidence on normal oxygen saturation profiles in otherwise healthy full-term infants. [6][7][8][9] There is a need to define reference ranges for oxygen saturation profiles in this population to facilitate interpretation of oxygen saturation profiles in term infants who are being monitored with continuous pulse oximetry.…”