Nonnutritive Sucking Modulates Behavioral State for Preterm Infants Before Feeding

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Forty‐two pre‐term infants were studied to determine the effect of nonnutritive sucking pre‐feeding on behavioral state. Infants were randomly assigned to pacifier or rest groups. Pacifiers or rest were given for 5 minutes following routine caregiving and before each of the first 16 bottle feedings. A 12‐category scale was used to measure state immediately before the 5‐minutes and after. Frequencies of states that precede optimal feedings changed for infants given pacifiers versus rest: alert inactivity (+6 vs. –2), quiet awake (+ 19 vs. – 6), and active awake (– 24 vs. +12); infants given pacifiers had more sleep and fewer restless states. Group differences were non‐significant before nonnutritive sucking (p=0.16) but significant after (p=0.00001). When self‐regulatory feeding policies based on early hunger cues are not allowed, nonnutritive sucking for 5 minutes pre‐feeding is simple, brief, and appropriate for busy intensive care units. These findings confirm those from earlier less conclusive research and indicate that nonnutritive sucking modulates behavioral state.