title: Comparison of Sucking Pattern in Premature Infants With Different Feeding Methods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the sucking pattern of preterm infants on different feeding methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sucking behavior on a gloved finger was evaluated for infants receiving breastfeeding, spoon-feeding and tube-feeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) numbers of sucks in spoon-fed infants [49 (20) vs. 35 (23); P=0.04] were significantly higher, and the grade of suck was significantly better compared to the tube-fed group. The mean (SD) number of sucks was significantly higher [83 (30) vs. 49 (20), P<0.001] in breastfed infants compared to spoon-fed infants; all infants on breast feeds had grade 2 suction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sucking behavior varies between tube-fed, spoon-fed, and breastfed preterm infant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad. India. Correspondence to: Dr Hemasree Kandraju, Department of Neonatology. Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana 500 001, India. drhema4@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Md Ajazur
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Sreeram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: Hemasree
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kandraju
authors.forename: Srinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murki
mesh_terms: D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*