title: Comparison of morning and afternoon feedings in very low birth weight infants.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare sucking and breathing rhythmicity in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, < 1,500 g) infants during morning feedings and afternoon feedings. Nine infants were fed at 9 a.m., and nine at 3 p.m. Eight morning-fed infants and 8 afternoon-fed infants had a continuous sucking (CS) period at the beginning of the feeding; 9 morning- and 8 afternoon-fed infants had an intermittent sucking (IS) period during which sucking bursts alternated with sucking pauses. Morning-fed infants had a lower respiratory rate during CS (p < .1) and IS (p < .05), a greater decrease in minute ventilation from the pre-feed period to the CS period (p < .05), and lower sucking pressure during IS (p < .05) than afternoon-fed infants. Breathing and sucking rhythmicity scores were calculated as an indicator of the coordination of sucking and breathing. Morning-fed infants had lower scores than afternoon-fed infants (p < .05). These findings suggest that morning feedings are more difficult than afternoon feedings for VLBW infants and point to the need for further studies to compare morning and afternoon feedings.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shiao
mesh_terms: D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors