Enhancement of Nutritive Sucking in Premature Infants

dequate oral nutrition is sometimes difficult to achieve in premature infants recovering from a variety of prenatal stresses. Enhancement of nutritive sucking was attempted by two facilitation procedures and compared to results obtained in unstimulated feeding situations (Condition 1) each infant acted as his own control. In Condition 2, infants received oral facilitation consisting of tactile stimuli prior to feeding while Condition 3 they received stimuli during the feeding. Volumes ingested, rate of sucking and pressure exerted in sucking were measured. Nutritive sucking was enhanced with tactile stimulation during feeding. (Condition 1 vs. Condition 2). Oral tactile stimulation administered during nipple feeding enhances oral intake in premature infants.