Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Breastfeeding Infants Receiving Respiratory Support Trial
Brief Summary:
The purpose of this study is to assess whether two methods of breathing support in babies called 'Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula' oxygen (HHFNC) and 'nasal Continuous Positive Airways Pressure' (nCPAP) are compatible with breastfeeding. Many babies who are premature or unwell after birth require help with their breathing. This is often achieved by blowing a continuous flow of air through the nose and down into the lungs in order to reduce the amount of effort the baby needs to inflate the lungs during breathing.
Currently some centres allow babies to breastfeed whilst undergoing breathing support whilst other centres do not in case there is an increased risk of choking or other harmful events. In the latter case, babies are fed using a nasogastric tube (NGT) that runs from the baby's nostrils into their stomach.
At this centre, babies are allowed to breastfeed whilst simultaneously on either HHFNC or nCPAP. This is because the concerns over the choking risk are not evidence based. This study aims to conclusively prove that thisfeeding protocol is safe and then to expand into other areas of research to find out the following: