title: Sucking and breathing patterns during breast- and bottle-feeding in term neonates. Effects of nutrient delivery and composition.
abstract: We attempted to determine whether differences in milk composition or flow rate are the primary determinants in altering breathing pattern during nipple-feeding. In the first phase of the study, 15 neonates were studied during breast-feeding and bottle-feeding; in the second phase, 15 were evaluated during bottle-feeding of expressed human milk and formula. A reduction in inspiratory duration was observed with all feeding regimens. Moreover, significant prolongation in expiratory duration and reduction in breathing frequency were observed during bottle-feeding of formula and expressed human milk (compared with control); these effects were greater with formula feeding. Higher sucking frequency was observed during breast-feeding compared with bottle-feeding; no difference in suckling frequency or sucking pressure was observed between bottle-feeding of expressed human milk and formula. We conclude that most of the differences in sucking and breathing patterns between breast- and bottle-feeding can be attributed to nutrient delivery rather than nutrient composition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhatia
mesh_terms: D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000032:analysis; D012119:Respiration; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*