An ultrasonographic study of the organisation of sucking and swallowing by newborn infants.
Healthy infants' sucking, swallowing and breathing movements were observed ultrasonographically during breast- and bottle-feeding between two and five days after birth. Sucks were found to occur either on their own or in combination with a swallow. Swallows did not occur on their own. Younger babies' swallowing invariably was associated with a pause in breathing. Older babies generally showed better co-ordination of sucking, swallowing and breathing than younger ones, whether breast- or bottle-feeding.
D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003679:Deglutition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography