SUCKING IN NEWBORN DURING A FEED

Two components of sucking (suction and expression) were measured under three conditions: when no fluid was available, when small amounts of dextrose were delivered, and throughout a milk feed. Significant differences in sucking rate, time spent sucking, and pressure were found between the nonnutritive and dextrose conditions; these differences were more marked during the feed. Sucking throughout the feed remained uniform until the end of the last quarter when a reduction in frequency of sucking, time spent sucking, and sucking pressure took place. There were no changes in sucking rate. Heart rate rose during nutritive sucking and moment-to-moment variation in heart rate was reduced. © 1969.