Dear Joy:
I saw your post in this morning. I am interested in this topic and
conducting a study project in this topic this year. Up to now, we have
recorded more than 40 times of breastfeeding and bottle feeding separatedly
in LBW premature infants. The lowest weight when we started breastfeeding
was 1150gm. 14 records were done when the premies were less than 1500gm.
When we compared the oxygen saturation, breathing pattern and pulse rate
during these two feeding methods, there were no difference in these two
groups except that breathing rate was higher(within physiological range)
during breastfeeding.
We thought that it's good because we were afraid of apnea in premies. The
incidence of apnea and oxyygen desaturation  was much higher in the
bottle-fed group. Our results is almost the same as the study done by Bier
JA B.(Breast-feeding of very low birth weight infants. J Pediatr
1993;123:773-8)

Higher oxygen saturation during breast-feeding had also been found in
Meier's and Singer's studies.

Meier P. Bottle and breast-feeding effects on transcutaneous oxygen pressure
and    temperature in preterm infants. Nurse Res 1988;37:36-41
Meier P, Mangurten H. Breastfeeding the preterm infant. In Riordan J,
Auerbach K eds:    Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Boston, Jones&
Bart;ett 1993, p 253-278
Singer L, Martin RJ. Oxygen desaturation complicates feeding in infants with
bronchopulmonary dysplasia after discharge. Pediatrics 1992;90:380-4

In our study group, we did see premies with nipple confusion. Our intensive
care unit and growing up unit are open 24 hours to the parents, but we have
no space available for mothers to stay in hospital for 24 hours. We saw
premies who breastfed wonderfully in the beginning, but suckled in a more
ineffective way after they had been bottle-fed. We are still trying to find
the way. For most of the nurses,  bottle feeding is much time-saving then
cup or syringe feeding.

Hope this help.

Chao-Huei
Chao-Huei Chen, M.D. < [log in to unmask]>
mailing address:
160, sec 3, Chung-Kang Rd, Department of Pediatrics,
Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan
Tel 886 4 3592525-5909, 5971 Fax 886 4 4619990