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Feeding patterns of full-term and preterm infants at forty weeks postconceptional age
Barbara Medoff-Cooper1, Jacqueline M McGrath, Justine Shults
1School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Insights
Preterm infants show distinct feeding skill differences compared to full-term infants. Maturation and feeding experience significantly impact infant sucking abilities, highlighting the need for tailored infant care.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Development
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Feeding
Background:
- Limited research compares feeding skills of preterm (PT) and full-term (FT) infants at term.
- Understanding sucking abilities is crucial for successful infant feeding outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare sucking abilities between PT infants at 40 weeks postconceptional age (PCA) and newborn FT infants.
- To examine microstructural differences in sucking and feeding behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Kron Nutritive Sucking Apparatus (KNSA) to assess sucking patterns.
- Analyzed data from 213 infants across three gestational age groups (24-29 wk, 30-32 wk, 38-42 wk).
Main Results:
- Significant differences observed in multiple sucking variables, including number of bursts, sucks per burst, and mean maximum pressure (p < .0001).
- Interburst interval and suck width also showed significant variations between groups (p < .0001).
Conclusions:
- Infant feeding behaviors are influenced by both biological maturation at birth and postnatal feeding experience.
- Findings underscore the developmental trajectory of sucking mechanics in preterm infants.
Abstract:
Little research exists that addresses the differences in feeding skills between preterm (PT) infants at term and full-term (FT) infants. The purpose of this study was to quantify and examine the differences in sucking abilities of PT infants when measured at 40 weeks postconceptional age (PCA) and newly born FT infants. The sample consisted of 213 infants who were divided into three groups on the basis of their gestational age at birth (24-29 wk, 30-32 wk, and 38-42 wk). The Kron Nutritive Sucking Apparatus (KNSA) was used to examine the microstructure of sucking and feeding behaviors. There were significant differences among the three groups in several of the sucking variables: number of bursts (p = .005), intersuck interval (p = .0212), sucks per burst (p = .0003), suck width (p < .0001), intersuck width (p < .0001), mean maximum pressure (p < .0001), and intersuck width/interburst width (p = .02). The findings from this study demonstrate the importance of both maturation at birth and experience as factors influencing feeding behaviors.