The Effect of Two Methods of Light Reduction on the Premature Infants Feeding Tolerance

Feeding intolerance is a major concern in preterm infants. Facilitate milk tolerance in infants is one of the interventions that nurses can exploit in order to improve the feeding tolerance in preterm infants. This clinical trial was performed on 60 preterm infants with the gestational age of 28-32 weeks hospitalized in the NICU. Samples were randomly divided into two groups. In the intervention group, in addition to the routine light reduction care(dragging the wards curtains, turning off the extra lights and placing a thick cover on the incubator), an insulation cover was also placed over the faces of infants, which in the control group only the routine light reduction care of ward was applied. The study lasted for 6 days and during the days of intervention, the regurgitation and feeding tolerance rate of infants in two groups were assessed and recorded with a checklist. The data were entered into SPSS18 and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Demographic characteristics of premature infants were not significantly different in both groups by applying more light reduction in the NICU, there was a significant difference in the amount of milk intake in newborns (p=0.002), and the average amount of milk remaining in the stomach of the infant (p=0.001) in each meal of infants in the intervention period. The results show the positive effect of light reduction on feeding tolerance and reduction of residual milk volume in premature infant, which can lead to appropriate to feeding infant.