Factors Related to Sucking Ability in Healthy Newborns

Factors Associated with Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation: A Meta-Analysis

“…44 A delay in breastfeeding initiation can result in reduced suckling ability and receptivity of the infant resulting in reduced or insufficient milk supply. [45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] These results are consistent with the World Health Organization's Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative that recommends that the mothers are supported and encouraged to initiate breastfeeding with the first hour after birth (step 4) and that infants and mothers remain together 24 hours a day (step 7). 35,42,54 Despite measurement differences between study populations from different countries, the highest level of education vs the lowest was consistently associated with a higher likelihood of both breastfeeding initiation and continuation.…”

A Review of Psychometric Properties of Feeding Assessment Tools Used in Neonates

“…The oral‐motor components in the checklist include rate, rhythmicity, and consistency of degree of jaw excursion; the direction, range of motion, and timing of tongue movements; and tongue configuration (Braun & Palmer, 1986). It can be used to assess an infant’s oral‐motor skills during either bottle‐feeding or breastfeeding and has been used in a variety of studies to quantify infants’ oral‐motor skills (Bier, Ferguson, Cho, Oh, & Vohr, 1993; Bier et al, 1993; Ferguson, Bier, Cucca, Andreozzi, & Lester, 1996; Gaebler & Hanzlik, 1996; Hawdon, Beauregard, Slattery, & Kennedy, 2000; Howe, Sheu, Hinojosa, Lin, & Holzman, 2007a; Howe, Sheu, & Holzman, 2007b; MacMullen & Dulski, 2000; Miller‐Loncar, Bigsby, High, Wallach, & Lester, 2004) or to provide guidance for management (Howe et al, 2007b; Palmer, 1993; Palmer & Heyman, 1993; Palmer & VandenBerg, 1998; VandenBerg, 1990).…”

The Breast-feeding Conversation

“…30,43 Newborns' ability to regulate infant state facilitates effective breast-feeding. 44 Researchers observed that younger newborns had better sucking ability than older newborns, which supports the importance of early breast-feeding experiences. 35 A newborn in the active alert or crying state may seem to be fighting at the breast and have difficulty breast-feeding effectively.…”

“…For example, characteristics of the quiet alert state include minimal body movement, regular respirations, eyes that are open and bright, and attention to stimuli. 28,44,45 Newborns also signal when they are having difficulty managing environmental stimulation with behaviors that parents may misinterpret. In the first hours after birth, most newborns spend an extended period in this state, 42 so mothers are encouraged to initiate breast-feeding as soon after the birth as possible.…”

“…27 A newborn who is sleepy may not latch or feed well initially, lose too much weight, and then need to be supplemented. 44 The newborn's breast-feeding language influences the mother's interpretation of the breast-feeding experience. 28,44,45 Newborns also signal when they are having difficulty managing environmental stimulation with behaviors that parents may misinterpret.…”