The Effect of Feeding Positions During Tube Feeding on Stress, Pain Level and Feeding Tolerance of Preterm Infants

Premature infants have a need for an orogastric or nasogastric feeding tube because of the immaturity of coordination between suck-swallow and breathing. Tube feeding could cause feeding intolerance and stress. One of the recommendations to prevent feeding intolerance is giving suitable position during tube feeding. Also, feeding intolerance is related to stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of semi-elevated supine (ESU) and semi-elevated right lateral (ESRL) positions on the stress, pain levels and feeding tolerance of premature infants during the tube feeding (TF). This was a clinical trial with a crossover design in which subjects randomly received a sequence of either ESU position or ESRL position, during the TF.