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<html lang="en" class="hexml-course s2e"><!--[if lt IE 8]> <html class="oldie"> <![endif]--><!--Generated at Wed, 12 Oct 2022 23:23:13 +0000--><head><meta name="author" content='["Carole Dobrich"]'><meta name="course" content="MA03"><meta name="topic" content="7.3"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="copyright" content="2022 Health e-Learning"><meta name="robots" content="NONE,NOARCHIVE"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=0"><link rel="stylesheet" href="//static.health-e-learning.com/jigsaw/design/hexml.pack.css?v=1665616993" type="text/css"><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="//static.health-e-learning.com/jigsaw/design/hexml.pack.js?v=1665616993"></script><title>MA03: Finger Feeding</title></head><body class="loading"><div class="ajax-modal Fixed"></div><div class="watermark"><span>Health e-Learning</span></div><div id="access"><a href="#access" accesskey="a">Access Keys</a><a href="#menu" accesskey="m">Skip to Menu</a><a href="#content" accesskey="c">Skip to Content</a><a href="#footer" accesskey="f">Skip to Footer</a></div><div id="nav"><span class="nav-menu">Maintaining BFHI Education for Nurses and Midwives - Series 2</span><a id="hamburger" href="#"><span class="hamburger hamburger--collapse"><span class="hamburger-box"><span class="hamburger-inner"></span></span></span></a><div class="progress-container"><div id="myBar" class="progress-bar"></div></div></div><nav id="menu"><ol><li><a href="topic_1-0.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">1.0 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Introduction</span></a></li><li><a href="topic_2-0.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">2.0 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Protection of Breastfeeding [Domain 1]</span></a><ol><li><a href="topic_2-1.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">2.1 </span><span class="menu-item-title">A Code History Timeline</span></a></li><li><a href="topic_2-2.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">2.2 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Marketing - the role of the International Code</span></a></li></ol></li><li><a href="topic_3-0.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">3.0 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Understanding the importance of skin-to-skin</span></a><ol><li><a href="topic_3-1.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">3.1 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Infant innate behaviours</span></a></li><li><a href="topic_3-2.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">3.2 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Skin-to-skin and the role of the Health Worker</span></a></li><li><a href="topic_3-3.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">3.3 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Addressing barriers to skin-to-skin</span></a></li><li><a href="topic_3-4.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">3.4 </span><span class="menu-item-title">The loving relationship</span></a></li></ol></li><li><a href="topic_4-0.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">4.0 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Postnatal Interventions</span></a><ol><li><a href="topic_4-1.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">4.1 </span><span class="menu-item-title">The chemistry of feeding</span></a></li></ol></li><li><a href="topic_5-0.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">5.0 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Special needs and infant challenges [Domain 6]</span></a><ol><li><a href="topic_5-1.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">5.1 </span><span class="menu-item-title">The 'late preterm' 'early term' baby</span></a></li><li><a href="topic_5-2.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">5.2 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Ankyloglossia</span></a></li></ol></li><li><a href="topic_6-0.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">6.0 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Managing common difficulties</span></a><ol><li><a href="topic_6-1.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">6.1 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Engorgement</span></a></li><li><a href="topic_6-2.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">6.2 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Hyperlactation</span></a></li></ol></li><li><a href="topic_7-0.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">7.0 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Supplementation</span></a><ol><li><a href="topic_7-1.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">7.1 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Feeding-line device at the breast or chest</span></a></li><li><a href="topic_7-2.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">7.2 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Cup feeding</span></a></li><li class="current mm-selected"><a href="topic_7-3.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">7.3 <i class="fa fa-caret-right" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><span class="menu-item-title">Finger Feeding</span></a></li></ol></li><li><a href="topic_8-0.html"><span class="menu-item-icon">8.0 </span><span class="menu-item-title">Closing session</span></a><hr></li><li class="appendix"><a href="references.html"><span class="menu-item-icon no-topic"><i aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-book i-topic"></i></span><span class="menu-item-title">List of references</span></a></li><li class="appendix"><a href="contents.html"><span class="menu-item-icon no-topic"><i aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-file-text-o i-topic"></i></span><span class="menu-item-title">Course contents</span></a></li><li class="appendix"><a href="full.html"><span class="menu-item-icon no-topic"><i aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-print i-topic"></i></span><span class="menu-item-title">Print version</span></a></li></ol></nav><div id="content"><h1 id="top">7.3 Finger Feeding</h1><section class="section" id=""> <div class="content-node"> <p>Finger feeding involves the infant sucking on the 'feeder's' finger with a source of supplement being given alongside the finger as the infant sucks well.</p> <p>It is an alternative feeding method when an infant is unable to breastfeed.</p> <p>It can also be used for modification of an inappropriate sucking technique.</p> </div> </section><div class="box"><div class="box-title"><h3>In a NICU...</h3></div> <div class="content-node"> <p>Finger feeding is an effective way to increase sucking abilities, accelerate the transition to breastfeeding, and shortens the duration of hospitalization in preterm infants<em>.</em></p> <p>The finger-feeding technique was shown to be a better feeding transition method regarding efficacy when compared with the cup feeding method, due to lower milk loss and fewer complication episodes.</p> <p>Finger feeding can be considered as an alternative to cup feeding.<em></em></p> <p>Finger feeding is easily taught to parents who can continue at home if necessary.</p> </div> </div><section class="section" id="When_to_consider_finger_feeding"><h2>When to consider finger feeding</h2> <div class="content-node"> <p>Finger feeding may be considered when:</p> <ul> <li>the infant is unable to grasp the breast</li> <li>the infant is refusing the breast</li> <li>the infant is rousable but too sleepy for cup feeding</li> <li>the mother/parent who has severely damaged nipples requiring an alternative feeding method during the healing process<ul><li>this is helpful to the mother/parent and may also serve as a suck therapy for the infant during this time</li></ul></li> <li>as a 'pre-breastfeed' enticer for infants suffering from confusion or dysfunctional suck problems.</li> </ul> </div> </section><section class="section" id="How_to_finger_feed"><h2>How to finger feed</h2></section><div class="captionBox"><img width="384" height="512" data-src="images/fingerfeed.jpg" src="//static.health-e-learning.com/jigsaw/design/lazy_image.gif" alt="Infant being finger fed human milk in an upright position"><p>Infant being finger fed human milk in an upright position. <br>&copy; J &amp; B Eastgate</p></div><section class="section" id=""> <section class="section" id="Equipment"><h3>Equipment</h3> <div class="content-node"> <ul> <li>Milk receptacle or Syringe and/or feeding tube<ul><li>feeding tube with one end placed in a milk receptacle (cup, open bottle, or bottle with teat upside down) OR</li><li>regular or periodontal curved tip</li></ul></li> <li>Supplement (human milk, or if unavailable commercial infant formula)</li> <li>Pillow or towel roll</li> <li>Gloves (for all except the infant's own parents)</li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="section" id="Preparation"><h3>Preparation</h3> <div class="content-node"> <p>Wash hands. Health professionals don gloves. (Parents need not use gloves)</p> <p>Warm the supplement and pour into the milk receptacle or draw it up into the syringe. If a feeding line is being used - place it in the milk receptacle and tape distal end (tape is not always needed) to finger. If a syringe is being used attach the tube (be very careful with using a syringe).</p> <p><strong>NEVER </strong>force the milk into the infant's mouth, allow the infant to suck in the milk, and explain this to the parents</p> <p>Support the infant on a pillow or on the lap of the feeder person.</p> <p>Utilize the same positioning principles as used when feeding at the breast:</p> <ul> <li>Infant well supported down the back</li> <li>Infant's body in alignment with his head; neck slightly extended</li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="section" id="Technique"><h3>Technique</h3> <div class="content-node"> <ul> <li>The feeder uses their finger with the nail-side down and the soft pad of the finger to the palate.</li> <li>The feeder's finger begins curled. Use the knuckle to gently stimulate the top lip and encourage tongue protrusion and gape.</li> <li>Uncurl the finger under the top lip and introduce it along the palate.</li> <li>Keep finger directly down midline during feeding.</li> <li>Once sucking has commenced, insert the finger with the feeding tube or the syringe tip against the feeder's finger. (Note: if the feeding tube is being used it can also be gently slid in the corner of the mouth while the infant is sucking on the finger)</li> <li>GENTLY push very small amounts of milk (approx 0.5ml) into the infant's mouth to stimulate continued sucking only if needed.</li> <li>Follow infant's lead with sucking bursts - only push milk in when infant is sucking if needed, or stimulate suck recommencement by massaging the palate.</li> <li>Suction generated by the infant's sucking will sometimes draw the milk from the feeding receptacle.</li> </ul> </div> </section> </section><div id="footer"><a href="topic_7-2.html" rel="prev" class="prev">&laquo; Prev</a><a href="topic_8-0.html" rel="next" class="next">Next &raquo;</a><br style="clear: both"><div class="floating-menu"><button class="theme-toggle" title="Toggle colors (dark or light)"><i class="fa fa-moon-o"></i></button><button class="gotoTop" title="Back to top"><i class="fa fa-chevron-up"></i></button></div><a href="javascript:%20window.print()" id="printLink">Print this page</a><span class="noPrint"> | </span>&copy; 2022 Health e-Learning<p class="printOnly">COPYRIGHT: You are permitted to print ONE (1) copy for your personal use only. No graphics, tables, quizzes, videos, etc, may be used in any form without express written consent. Author: ["Carole Dobrich"]</p><p class="dateUpdated">Updated on Wed, 12 Oct 2022 23:23:13 +0000</p></div></div></body></html>
