Question
My granddaughter was born October 5th, 2006. She was not due until Jan 1st, 2007. She was released from the hospital in January, but still will take almost no bottles. She has a gastric tube, but we are concerned that there is something wrong because she
Answer
Premature infants frequently demonstrate immature sucking patterns, state regulation, and behavior organization. Some premature infants also have other complex medical and developmental issues that further impact oral feeding. Without knowing your granddaughter's medical history, it would be difficult to say if her feeding issues are related to a surgical problem. A swallow study will help determine if aspiration is a contributing factor and define any anatomical or physiological dysfunction with her oral feeding.
Premature and medically complex infants benefit greatly from an individualized and developmentally supportive approach. If your granddaughter is not already receiving therapy services for feeding, perhaps a referral to appropriate services can be obtained from the evaluation. Best wishes to you.
Jeanne L. Saavedra, MHS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist at St. Louis Children's Hospital. She has worked with medically involved infants and children, and specialized in the area of feeding and swallowing for the past 22 years.
Jeanne Saavedra Mhs, CCC-SLP
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