The Use of the Pacifier Activated Lullaby to Improve the Transition to Oral Feeding for Premature Infants With Chronic Lung Disease or Respiratory Distress Syndrome
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL) intervention on the transition to oral feeding for preterm infants with chronic lung disease and respiratory distress syndrome that require non-invasive respiratory support at 34 weeks PMA. This study will utilize a clinical trial design. Participants will be randomized into two groups. One group will receive the PAL intervention, the other group serving as a no contact control. Participants will be matched based on sex, gestational age at birth, and neurologic injury. Infants in the intervention group will receive two PAL sessions a week until successfully transitioned to \<2L of respiratory support and then receive one PAL session within 24 hours of their first oral feeding attempt.
• All infants born less than 33 weeks PMA
• Infants enrolled prior to 35 weeks PMA
• Medically stable to tolerate minimal levels of auditory stimulation
• Approval from medical staff to begin intervention
• Requiring non-invasive respiratory support that inhibits the start of oral feeding, including: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Non-Invasive Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NIV-NAVA), Non-Invasive Ventilator (NIV), High Flow Nasal Cannula (\>2L), and Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV)