The development of sucking patterns and physiologic correlates in very-low-birth-weight infants

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 7, 2026

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System
06:19

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

B Medoff-Cooper1, T Verklan, S Carlson

  • 1University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia.

Nursing Research
|March 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Nutritive sucking patterns in very-low-birth-weight infants mature with age, showing increased sucks and pressure. These sucking measurements can indicate appropriate infant development and organization.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Infant neurodevelopment

Background:

  • Very-low-birth-weight infants often face challenges in developing adequate nutritive sucking.
  • Understanding sucking patterns is crucial for assessing infant maturation and feeding readiness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the development of nutritive sucking patterns in very-low-birth-weight infants.
  • To identify physiologic correlates associated with these sucking patterns.
  • To determine if sucking parameters can serve as indicators of infant maturation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 106 sucking records from 50 very-low-birth-weight infants (mean gestational age 29.5 weeks).
  • Measurement of sucking parameters: number of sucks, maximum pressure, time per burst, and time between sucks.
  • Monitoring of physiologic data: heart rate, oxygen saturation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Main Results:

  • Sucking parameters like number of sucks and maximum pressure increased with postconceptual age.
  • Time required per burst and time between sucks decreased between 32 and 36 weeks.
  • Physiologic measures remained within normal ranges, with slight variations correlating with age.

Conclusions:

  • Nutritive sucking patterns in very-low-birth-weight infants demonstrate clear developmental progression.
  • Sucking parameter measurements are valuable for assessing infant maturation and organization relative to postconceptual age.

More Related Videos

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling07:11

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Early Vocalization During Infancy01:24

Early Vocalization During Infancy

Communication in infancy begins with crying, a reflexive and adaptive behavior that signals needs such as hunger, discomfort, or anger. Variations in pitch, pattern, and intensity help caregivers interpret these states, making crying an important survival mechanism during the neonatal period.Emergence of VocalizationsBy about six weeks, infants begin cooing, producing vowel-like sounds, squeals, and gurgles that often indicate contentment. Between six and ten months, cooing develops into...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Taste During Infancy01:20

Taste During Infancy

The sense of taste begins developing before birth and is shaped by biological predispositions and early experience. During pregnancy, flavors from foods consumed by the mother can enter the amniotic fluid, exposing the fetus to different flavors. These prenatal experiences may contribute to food preferences after birth.Prenatal and Breastfeeding InfluencesAfter birth, flavors from a mother’s diet can also pass into breast milk. Repeated exposure to these flavors during breastfeeding may make...
Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood01:18

Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood

Physical growth is especially rapid during the first three years of life, with the greatest rate in the first few months after birth. Although children continue to gain height and weight throughout infancy and toddlerhood, the rate of growth gradually slows during the second and third years. At most ages, boys are typically slightly taller and heavier than girls, reflecting a common pattern of early physical development.Changes in Body ProportionsAs infants become toddlers, their body...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Principles of Development01:31

Principles of Development

Physical development during the prenatal period and early childhood follows two major directional principles: cephalocaudal and proximodistal development. These general patterns happen simultaneously and help explain changes in body proportions and the gradual development of motor skills.Cephalocaudal DevelopmentThe cephalocaudal principle describes development from the head downward toward the lower body. During prenatal development, the head and brain structures develop rapidly before many...