The development of sucking patterns and physiologic correlates in very-low-birth-weight infants.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the development of nutritive sucking patterns and physiologic correlates in very-low-birth-weight infants. Fifty infants with a mean gestational age of 29.5 weeks (SD = 1.8 weeks) and mean birth weight of 1466 g (SD = 322 g) generated 106 sucking records. The mean number of sucks and maximum pressure increased with increasing postconceptual age. The time required per burst decreased between 32 weeks and 36 weeks. The mean time between sucks also decreased. The mean heart rates for the three 5-minute periods ranged 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 76.85 mm Hg mean diastolic pressure from 43.63 mm Hg to 45.33 mmHg. Sucking parameter measurements can be used to distinguish an infant who is maturing and organizing appropriately for postconceptual age.