Feeding difficulties are very common for the premature infants for a number of reasons as illustrated above. In her doctoral dissertation at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Brenda Lessen completed a pilot study of the effect of oral stimulation on feeding progression in preterm infants. Dr. Lessen has developed the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI), a series of eight massages targeting the mouth, gums, tongue, palate and cheeks that provides sensory stimulation of the oral musculature and improves infant suck.
A randomized, blinded, clinical trial of 19 premature infants born between 26 and 29 weeks demonstrated that infants who received PIOMI transitioned to total oral feedings 5 days sooner than the infants who did not receive the intervention and were discharged 2.6 days sooner.
This technique is non invasive, free, and only takes 5 min to perform. Please follow the instructions for the intervention below and try it on your next preterm infant or full term infant with difficulty with oral feeding. Leave comments about your experience with the interventions. Feel free to post any questions you may have as well. I will attach an evaluation form for you to complete to evaluate this training. Thank you! Let the feeding begin!!
Here is a copy of the research article for PIOMI that I mentioned above.
Permission granted to use PIOMI materials by, Dr. Brenda Lessen.
Dr. Brenda Lessen can be contacted for any questions or for information about the PIOMI program.
Dr. Brenda Lessen
blessen@iwu.edu
Dr. Brenda Lessen
blessen@iwu.edu
I will be uploading a video clip of the PIOMI technique soon. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeletePlease don't forget to complete the evaluation form to evaluate the training and email it back to me. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Though my daughter wasn't premature I certainly know the importance of a good latch when nursing. This is a great resource. Will pass it along.
ReplyDeleteThis was very informative info. I will plan on trying this when my daughter is born.
ReplyDeleteI've passed this post along to my mother. She works in early intervention and would find this very informative. As I was telling her about it she said that she can see how this technique would be helpful in helping a newborn to latch properly when they are having difficulty.
ReplyDeletethanks.....
ReplyDeletehello madam, i am dr. karan arora from mumbai, india. i am studying neonatology, and i am planning to do a pilot study on preterms using oromotor stimulation,
ReplyDeletethanks for providing us details of piomi. i wud like to be in touch with u
Hello Karan, just wanted to follow up with you. I was wondering if you have had any success with the intervention? Also if you had any questions about the technique.
DeleteDr. Brenda Lessen can be contacted for any questions or for information about the PIOMI program.www.helpthemshine.com
ReplyDeleteHello mam,iam student of MSc.nursing student need piomi detail,training and assessment tool as i want to do research study on piomi intervention
ReplyDelete