Am J Perinatol 2004; 21(7): 391-394
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-835315
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

The Effect of Positioning on Energy Expenditure in Preterm Infants: A Feasibility Study

Shaul Dollberg1 , Gala Yacov1 , Francis B. Mimouni1 , Mila Barak1
  • 1Department of Neonatology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
08 October 2004 (online)

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of a study of the effect of positioning on energy expenditure in preterm infants. We performed a prospective, randomized, clinical cross-over pilot study of eight healthy, appropriate weight for gestational age, gavage-fed, clinically stable preterm infants at the postmenstrual age of 30 weeks. Prior to the study and in accord with our feeding protocol, infants uniformly received either their own mother’s milk or a preterm formula. Each infant was studied in four different positions after randomization to eight different sequences. Infants were studied asleep, 90 minutes after feeding, after 20 minutes of being nursed in a given position. They were cared for in a servo-controlled convective incubator during the metabolic measurements, which were performed by indirect calorimetry. Energy expenditure was not significantly affected by the body position in which the infant was studied. The difference between the highest and the lowest mean energy expenditure was 3.7% of the highest one. We conclude that attempts to minimize energy expenditure by modifying infant positioning are likely to be insignificant, from a practical standpoint, because of the nonsignificant or minimal differences in energy expenditure.

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Shaul DollbergM.D. 

Department of Neonatology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center

6 Weizman Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel