Table 1 Comparison of means and standard deviations of infant demographics in the intervention and control group

Gestational age (weeks)

30.5 ± 1.96

31.23 ± 2.12

.17^*

At birth weight(g)

1327 ± 319.38

1262 ± 318.77

.44^*

 One-minute Apgar score

6.73 ± 1.68

7.2 ± 1.82

.30^*

 Five-minute Apgar score

8.96 ± 1.29

9.26 ± 1.14

.34^*

 Duration of ventilator use (days)

11.53 ± 14.49

8.9 ± 14.54

.48^*

Birth to oral feeding onset (days)

36.5 ± 19.9

28.8 ± 15.8

. 10^*

Oral feeding onset to discharge (days)

57.2 ± 21.5

48.7 ± 23.9

.15^*

Sex

N (%)

N (%)

 Boy

15 (50%)

10 (33.3%)

.14**

 Girl

15 (50%)

20 (66.7%)