Biomaterial Database

Nonnutritive sucking during gavage feeding enhances growth and maturation in premature infants. 1983

J C Bernbaum, and G R Pereira, and J B Watkins, and G J Peckham

The effects of nonnutritive sucking (NNS) by means of a pacifier during gavage feeding were studied in 30 premature infants whose birth weight was less than 1,500 g. The addition of NNS accelerated the maturation of the sucking reflex, facilitating a more rapid transition from gavage to oral feedings. Additionally, NNS decreased intestinal transit time and caused a more rapid weight gain despite comparable caloric intake resulting in a shortened hospital stay. Although the physiologic mechanisms resulting from this form of oral stimulation remain to be investigated, our data suggest that NNS may be an important factor to consider in the feeding of premature infants.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007224	Infant Care	Care of infants in the home or institution.
D007227	Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena	Nutritional physiology of children from birth to 2 years of age.	Infant Nutrition Physiology,Nutrition Physiology, Infant,Complementary Feeding,Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomenon,Infant Nutritional Physiology,Supplementary Feeding,Complementary Feedings,Feeding, Complementary,Feeding, Supplementary,Feedings, Complementary,Feedings, Supplementary,Nutritional Physiology, Infant,Physiology, Infant Nutrition,Physiology, Infant Nutritional,Supplementary Feedings
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007234	Infant, Premature	A human infant born before 37 weeks of GESTATION.	Neonatal Prematurity,Premature Infants,Preterm Infants,Infant, Preterm,Infants, Premature,Infants, Preterm,Premature Infant,Prematurity, Neonatal,Preterm Infant
D010288	Parenteral Nutrition	The administering of nutrients for assimilation and utilization by a patient who cannot maintain adequate nutrition by enteral feeding alone. Nutrients are administered by a route other than the alimentary canal (e.g., intravenously, subcutaneously).	Intravenous Feeding,Nutrition, Parenteral,Parenteral Feeding,Feeding, Intravenous,Feeding, Parenteral,Feedings, Intravenous,Feedings, Parenteral,Intravenous Feedings,Parenteral Feedings
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D005769	Gastrointestinal Motility	The motor activity of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.	Intestinal Motility,Gastrointestinal Motilities,Intestinal Motilities,Motilities, Gastrointestinal,Motilities, Intestinal,Motility, Gastrointestinal,Motility, Intestinal
D006128	Growth	Gradual increase in the number, the size, and the complexity of cells of an individual. Growth generally results in increase in ORGAN WEIGHT; BODY WEIGHT; and BODY HEIGHT.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013391	Sucking Behavior	Any suction exerted by the mouth; response of the mammalian infant to draw milk from the breast. Includes sucking on inanimate objects. Not to be used for thumb sucking, which is indexed under fingersucking.	Behavior, Sucking,Behaviors, Sucking,Sucking Behaviors