Complementary Nutrition Methods in Newborn

It is ideal for all newborns to feed their mothers’ milk. Due to weak oral-motor functions, being neurologically and physiologically immature, sucking-swallowing-breathing coordination, some newborns cannot immediately breastfeed and are hence unable to obtain oral nutrition. Therefore, it is necessary to initiate proper nutrition in those newborns who are not breastfeeding. In the graves of the Nile basin, items such as cups, cow horns and ceramic cups dating to 500 BC have been found, indicating the earliest search for alternative options for infant feeding. Today, this search continues, with parenteral and oral or nasogastric tubes; enteral feeding methods include feeding with a bottle, plate, spoon, finger, syringe, or dropper. It is preferred to total parenteral nutrition. For newborn nutrition, enteral and parenteral nutrition could also be applied together. However, even with the most appropriate method, feeding newborn infants could be very difficult. Hence, every newborn nurse should know the preterm and term newborn feeding methods and should have the ability to apply these methods properly. The purpose of this article is to update the nurses on newborn feeding methods.