The Effects of Nonnutritive Sucking and Oral Support on the Feeding Efficiency of Preterm Infants

The purpose of this study is to describe the influence of oral support and nonnutritive sucking (NNS) across time on the feeding efficiency of preterm infants. The study was conducted as a three-group repeated-observation control group design. One hundred fifty-six infants were included in the analysis. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed at baseline, immediately after a 1-week intervention, and 7 days postintervention on the formula intake at 5 minutes, length of feeding, bursts, pauses, and pause duration. It was concluded that oral support and NNS are beneficial for preterm infants and that both interventions have immediate and continuing effects on the amount of formula taken in the first 5 minutes of feeding. The effects on sucking pattern characteristics are mixed with continuing effects noted on the number and length of bursts after the use of oral support and NNS but not immediately after the intervention. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.