PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics of nutritive sucking in preterm infants of different gestational ages after the medical prescription for oral feeding. METHODS: The sample comprised 32 preterm infants who were evaluated at the time they were released for oral feeding. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1), with gestational ages below 34 weeks; and Group 2 (G2), with gestational ages equal or above 34 weeks. Performance during nutritive sucking was evaluated by observing presence or absence of suction blocks, number and duration of suctions in the first three blocks, and presence or absence of suction/swallowing/breathing (S/S/B) coordination. None of the preterm infants in this sample had previously received oral motor sensory stimulation. RESULTS: Group 2 showed, in most preterm infants, the presence of S/S/B coordination, besides a better performance regarding number and duration of sucking blocks, when compared to Group 1. Regarding correlation between number and duration of sucking by block, G1 and G2 had similar results. Considering the intrauterine development of the subjects suitable to the gestational age, G1 and G2 presented similar performances both in the first and second sucking blocks. A decrease was observed in G1 in the third block. CONCLUSION: Group 2 showed better development of the nutritive sucking pattern, suggesting that the corrected gestational age of preterm infants interfered in the results obtained at the nutritive sucking evaluation. Therefore, this is also a relevant variable to be considered for oral feeding release.
Infant; newborn; Infant; premature; Gestational age; Feeding; Suction; Deglutition
