15% of all newborns experience feeding difficulty, the cost is high
NICU patients are the most important beneficiaries of monitored feeding. Feeding difficulties heavily influence the duration and cost of their care prior to discharge.
A NICU newborn has to be screened for oral feeding ability so that non-oral feeding methods can be employed when oral feeding is compromised. Currently, this screening is by observation. The Thrive feeding monitor will bring feeding ability into the clinical record and provide a data-driven screening method. Where breast-feeding is the goal, the monitor will enable assessment of the baby’s intrinsic feeding ability so that any difficulties may be more readily attributed to causes.
The Thrive monitor will enable the feeding ability of the infant to be consistently measured and charted using performance data to a level of detail that permits co-ordination, strength and stamina issues to be identified.
An important requirement for discharge is full oral feeding, either by breast or bottle. The Thrive monitor will permit the development and application of objective criteria that accelerate discharge and reduce readmissions.
Full-term babies in robust health are less vulnerable to feeding issues and are likely to be discharged soon after birth. The monitor will definitively confirm feeding health and permit discharge with a higher level of confidence and lower probability of re-admission. By sending the monitor home with the baby, hospitals will be able to monitor nutrition levels, provide remote medicine and maintain the baby’s medical record automatically.