title: The relationship of brain development and breastfeeding in the late-preterm infant.
abstract: Late-preterm infants (34 0/7-36 6/7 weeks gestation) are physiologically and developmentally immature at birth. The relationship between brain development and feeding is important since adequate oral intake is imperative to prevent feeding-related morbidity and mortality associated with being late preterm. One third of brain growth occurs in the last 6-8 weeks of gestation. The ontogeny of coordinated oral feeding appears to follow a chronological, predictable pattern in preterm neonates. This suggests that neurodevelopmental maturation, rather than experience or learned behavior, is largely responsible for feeding behaviors. The aim of this article is to provide a review of the literature that establishes the relationship between brain development and feeding in the late-preterm infant.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA, USA. marimba@nursing.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Sunny G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hallowell
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Spatz
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology