Preliminary results from a study at Falu lasarett indicate that premature babies can be discharged earlier from the neonatal unit when parents handle feeding based on the child's hunger signals. The research, led by Högskolan Dalarna, is Sweden's first on responsive feeding. One mother, Maya Johannesson, says the method felt natural for her and her son Milton.
At Falu lasarett in Dalarna, a study on responsive feeding for premature babies is underway, led by researchers at Högskolan Dalarna. Traditionally, feeding on neonatal units follows fixed schedules to ensure adequate nutrition, both in Sweden and internationally. In this study, parents instead manage feeding based on the child's own hunger signals, differing from prior research where staff interpreted those signals.
Preliminary results suggest the method increases breastfeeding and reduces hospital stay duration. In the study's first year, about 70 parents participated via questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The research team compares data on breastfeeding and growth before and after implementing responsive feeding. The majority of patients at the clinic now use the method.
Maya Johannesson and her son Milton, born two months premature, took part in the study. 'It felt completely natural,' Maya says. Milton's weight curve has gone straight upward since then. Researcher Jenny Ericson explains: 'The study examines how the care routine "responsive feeding" works. Preliminary results indicate increased breastfeeding in premature babies and reduced care time.'
Nurse Frida Wallin at the neonatal unit describes the method in an SVT video. The study emphasizes parents' increased presence and active role in care.
