title: Relationship of the first suck burst to feeding outcomes in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the relationship between the number of sucks in the first nutritive suck burst and feeding outcomes in preterm infants. The relationships of morbidity, maturity, and feeding experience to the number of sucks in the first suck burst were also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-experimental study of 95 preterm infants was used. Feeding outcomes included proficiency (percent consumed in first 5 min of feeding), efficiency (volume consumed over total feeding time), consumed (percent consumed over total feeding), and feeding success (proficiency >or=0.3, efficiency >or=1.5 mL/min, and consumed >or=0.8). Data were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were statistically significant positive relationships between number of sucks in the first burst and all feeding outcomes-proficiency, efficiency, consumed, and success (r=0.303, 0.365, 0.259, and tau=0.229, P<.01, respectively). The number of sucks in the first burst was also positively correlated to behavior state and feeding experience (tau=0.104 and r=0.220, P<.01, respectively). Feeding experience was the best predictor of feeding outcomes; the number of sucks in the first suck burst also contributed significantly to all feeding outcomes. The findings suggest that as infants gain experience at feeding, the first suck burst could be a useful indicator for how successful a particular feeding might be.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va 23298, USA. rpickler@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Rita H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Pickler
authors.forename: Chantira
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiaranai
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Reyna
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D017283:Neonatal Nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D019370:Observation; D010991:Plethysmography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*