Pengelolaan Pelayanan dan Asuhan Keperawatan pada Bayi dengan Berat Bayi Lahir Rendah (BBLR) melalui Penerapan Stimulasi Oral di Ruang NICU Rumah Sakit Prof Dr Chairuddin Panusunan Lubis Universitas Sumatera Utara

Abstract

Low Birth Weight (LBW) infants have a high risk of growth and development disorders, especially in terms of nutritional fulfillment due to immature sucking reflexes. The imbalance between sucking, swallowing, and breathing functions causes a delay in the transition to oral feeding, so that appropriate nursing interventions such as oral stimulation are needed. This report aims to provide an overview of the implementation of nursing care for LBW infants through oral stimulation to improve sucking reflexes and nutritional status in the NICU room of Prof. Dr. Chairuddin Panusunan Lubis Hospital. The method used was observation of two LBW infants. Oral stimulation intervention was carried out twice a day for 5 days with monitoring of sucking reflexes and changes in body weight. The results showed that By. Mrs. D with a gestational age of 35 weeks experienced a significant increase in sucking reflexes marked by the ability to coordinate sucking and swallowing movements, as well as an increase in body weight. In contrast, By. Mrs. T with a gestational age of 29 weeks showed a sucking reflex that was still weak, although there was an increase in body weight from 1,620 grams to 1,870 grams and was not yet able to perform oral feeding. This shows that gestational age is an important factor in determining the success of oral stimulation. Oral stimulation has been proven as one of the interventions in improving oral feeding ability in LBW infants, especially adjusted to the maturity age and clinical condition of the infant. Oral stimulation can be recommended as part of evidence-based neonatal nursing practice.