title: [Development of sucking rhythm and the influence of stimulation in premature infants].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The sucking development pattern of the preterm newborn (PTNB) in the neonatal period is important for an effective sucking and oral motor development. The establishment of a safe and efficient feeding in pre-term newborns is related to a rhythmic and coordinated sucking. Nonnutritive sucking stimulation can have an influence on the development of sucking and the development of sucking rhythm of pre-term newborns.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the development of the sucking rhythm, in non-nutritive and nutritive sucking in preterm newborns, as a consequence of non-nutritive sucking stimulation and in terms of corrected gestational age.
  
  
  METHODS
  95 preterm newborns randomly divided in three groups: Group 1, control group (35 PTNB), did not receive non-nutritive sucking stimulation; Group 2 (30 PTNB), received non-nutritive sucking stimulation using an orthodontic pacifier for premature infants (Nuk); and Group 3 (30 PTNB), received non-nutritive sucking stimulation using a gloved finger.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean gestational age was of 30.5 weeks (+/- 1.57), the mean corrected gestational age at the moment of enrollment in the study was of 31.6 weeks (+/- 1.31), and the mean birth weight was of 1.390 grams, with no statistical differences between the groups. The number of sucking bursts and pauses per minute increased by 0.16 per week and the duration of the bursts by 0.81 seconds; the duration of pauses decreased by 3.8 seconds per week while the number of sucks/second was constant, 1.15 and 0.95 for non-nutritive and nutritive sucking, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for any of the studied variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stimulation of non-nutritive suction in preterm newborns did not modify the post-natal development of sucking rhythm. The process of maturation, represented by the corrected gestational age, was considered the most responsible factor for this process.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. flaviacbn@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Flávia Cristina Brisque
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Neiva
authors.forename: Cléa Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leone
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010507:Periodicity; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors