Objective To explore the effect of different gravity feeding heights and lying position in preventing gastroesophageal reflux in premature infants.

Methods A total of 138 premature infants in the Department of Neonatology in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from June to December 2022 were selected as the research objects, and they were randomly divided into control group, the first observation group and the second observation group, with 46 cases in each group. The control group received conventional supine gravity feeding; the first observation group adopted a right lateral position, and raised the syringe to a distance of 20 cm above the lips of the premature infant after confirming there was no residual milk; the second observation group adopted a prone position, and the other measures were the same as the first observation group. Vomiting, milk spilling, apnea, decrease of blood oxygen saturation, gastric residue, times of reduced feeding, times of stopping feeding, growth of body mass, times of defecation, amount of defecation, time of exhausted fetal stool, amount of retention, and esophageal reflux monitoring in 24 hours after 2 weeks of feeding were compared among the three groups.

Results The average number of feedings per capita for premature infants in the three groups was 112 times; the incidence rates of vomiting, milk spilling, apnea and decreased blood oxygen concentration in the first observation group and the second observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05); the gastric residue ratios in the first observation group and the second observation group were significantly lower than that in the control group, while the body weight growth was significantly greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05); the first observation group and the second observationgroup had fewer times of reduced feeding and stopped feeding thanthe control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05); the number and amount of defecation in the first observation group and the second observation group were significantly greater than those in the control group, while the time and retention of exhausted fetal stool were significantly less than those in the control group (P < 0.05); the number of times of esophageal pH < 4 and reflux exceeding 5 minutes, the longest single reflux duration, and reflux index in the first observation group and the second observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Changes in gravity feeding heights and postures can reduce the incidence rates of vomiting, milk spilling, apnea and decreased blood oxygen concentration, prevent gastroesophageal reflux, and promote the growth and development of premature infants.