Comparison of sucking patterns at introduction of oral feeding and at term in Israeli and American preterm infants.
BACKGROUND
It has been hypothesized that early initiation of oral feeding in premature infants may enhance the maturation of sucking patterns.


OBJECTIVE
To compare preterm infant sucking characteristics in urban level III neonatal care units in the USA and Israel. The two hospitals have different practices regarding the introduction of oral feeding.


METHODS
Infants were assessed at 34-35 wk postconceptional age (PCA) and at term. Sucking parameters were assessed with the Kron's Nutritive Sucking Apparatus.


RESULTS
70 infants (38 Americans and 32 Israelis) participated in the study. Oral feedings were initiated earlier (32.6 +/- 4.3 vs 34.5 +/- 1.8 wk PCA, p < 0.01) and full oral feedings were reached earlier (35.4 +/- 2.8 vs 36.5 +/- 2.5 wk PCA, p < 0.05) in the USA infants. American preterm infants produced significantly more sucks (p < 0.001), had a higher suck rate (p < 0.001), more sucks per burst (p < 0.05), and a shorter interburst width (p < 0.01) at 34 wk PCA than Israeli infants. At term, American infants produced significant more sucks (p < 0.001), higher suck rate (p < 0.001), shorter intersuck width (p < 0.001), and a shorter interburst width (p < 0.05) than the Israeli infants of the same PCA.


CONCLUSIONS
Different practices in the care of preterm infants, such as postconceptional age at introduction of oral feeding, may play a role in the development of feeding and feeding organization at term.
Bromiker
Ruben
R
Department of Neonatology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Centers, Jerusalem, Israel. bromi@md2.huji.ac.il
Arad
Ilan
I
Loughran
Bernardette
B
Netzer
Dvorah
D
Kaplan
Michael
M
Medoff-Cooper
Barbara
B
D000367:Age Factors; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000379:methods*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D013391:Sucking Behavior; D014481:United States