Aim To compare the feeding patterns and difficulties of infants with congen
ital heart disease (CHD) and healthy controls, Information was gathered via
parental questionnaires.
Methods A matched case controlled study of 64 infants with CHD compared wit
h 64 healthy controls.
Results The main findings were: (1) Feeding patterns: mothers with infants
with CHD used bottle-feeding as a first method of feeding their babies more
often (CHD, 20%, controls, 2%); (2) Specific feeding difficulties: (a) inf
ants with CHD were significantly more breathless when feeding (CHD = 16%, c
ontrols, 0%), (b) had more vomiting at mealtimes (CHD = 23%, controls = 11%
), but (c) had significantly less spitting (CHD = 19%, controls, 41%); and
(3) infants with CHD showed significantly reduced growth.
Conclusions The feeding difficulties are related to the organic condition a
nd not specific difficulties in mother-infant interaction. Professional sup
port may be required for mothers of infants with CHD to maintain feeding ro
utines and to deal with the difficulties that arise.