THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCKING PATTERNS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATES IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the development of nut ritive sucking patterns and physiologic correlates in very-low-birth-w eight infants. Fifty infants with a mean gestational age of 29.5 weeks (SD = 1.8 weeks) and mean birth weight of 1466g (SD = 322g) generated 106 sucking records. The mean number of sucks and maximum pressure in creased with increasing postconceptual age. The time required per burs t decreased between 32 weeks and 36 weeks. The mean time between sucks also decreased. The mean heart rates for the three 5-minute periods r anged from 158.56 to 177.97 bpm. Mean oxygen saturation ranged from 94 .36% to 97.15%. Mean systolic pressure ranged from 69.82 mm Hg to 76.8 5 mm Hg; mean diastolic pressure from 43.63 mm Hg to 45 33 mm Hg. Suck ing parameter measurements can be used to distinguish an infant who is maturing and organizing appropriately for postconceptual age.