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Relationship of the first suck burst to feeding outcomes in preterm infants

Rita H Pickler1, Chantira Chiaranai, Barbara A Reyna

  • 1Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va 23298, USA. rpickler@vcu.edu

The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing
|May 23, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The number of sucks in a preterm infant

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Nutrition
  • Pediatric Feeding Disorders

Background:

  • Preterm infants often face feeding challenges.
  • Early feeding behaviors can predict feeding success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between initial nutritive sucking bursts and feeding outcomes in preterm infants.
  • To explore how infant factors like morbidity, maturity, and feeding experience relate to the first suck burst.

Main Methods:

  • A non-experimental study involving 95 preterm infants.
  • Feeding outcomes measured included proficiency, efficiency, consumption, and overall feeding success.
  • Correlation and regression analyses were employed.

Main Results:

  • A higher number of sucks in the first burst correlated positively with all feeding outcomes.
  • The first suck burst also showed positive correlations with behavior state and feeding experience.
  • Feeding experience was the strongest predictor of feeding outcomes, with the first suck burst also contributing significantly.

Conclusions:

  • The number of sucks in the initial burst is a significant predictor of feeding success in preterm infants.
  • As preterm infants gain feeding experience, the first suck burst becomes a valuable indicator of feeding performance.
  • This finding can aid in early identification of feeding difficulties and inform interventions.
Abstract

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