Feeding the Infant With Congenital Heart Disease: An Occupational Performance Challenge

Abstract

Abstract This review article uses the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance (CMOP) as a theoretical framework to organize a discussion of the complexities of infant feeding when the infant has congenital heart disease (CHD). Literature from many fields indicates that feeding supports the physical, cognitive, and affective development of infants within their various environmental contexts. Many infants with CHD, who are now surviving in increasing numbers, experience feeding difficulties that affect their growth and development and that challenge their caregivers. The feeding experiences of infants with CHD illustrate the clinical applicability of the CMOP and the need for further research. Research using the framework of the CMOP will enable the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions that support the occupation of feeding from both the infant and the caregiver perspective.