title: Sipping/lapping is a safe alternative feeding method to suckling for preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether sipping/lapping is a safe alternative to suckle bottle-feeding without any hydrostatic pressure, in terms of physiological stability and the relationship between swallowing and respiration. In addition, tongue movement was compared between sipping/lapping and suckling (bottle- and breastfeeding).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen infants (30-35?wk of gestation at birth) were studied while sipping/lapping and suckling a bottle without any hydrostatic pressure at different feeding sessions on the same day of the first oral feeding. The postmenstrual age at the time of study was 34.6+/-0.2 wk. We evaluated the amounts ingested and administration times. The heart rate, O(2) saturation (SpO(2)), and relationship between swallowing and respiration were examined while feeding. Tongue movements were also observed by ultrasonography. Statistical analysis was performed by a paired t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amounts ingested and intake volume per minute were lower while sipping/lapping compared to suckling. The overall heart rate and SpO(2) showed no statistically significant difference. The frequency of swallows followed by inspiration (27.6+/-0.8% and 31.0+/-1.3%) and swallows followed by expiration (46.4+/-0.9% and 45.4+/-1.4%, sipping and suckling, respectively) also showed no difference. Tongue movements while sipping/lapping differed from those while suckling a bottle or breast.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because physiological parameters and the relationship between swallowing and respiration while sipping/lapping are comparable to those while suckle bottle-feeding without any hydrostatic pressure, sipping/lapping is a safe alternative feeding method to suckle bottle-feeding, even in preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Chiba Children's Hospital, Chiba, Japan. katsuorobi@aol.com
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kani
mesh_terms: D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D014061:Tongue Habits