Preterm infants experience an array of health complications due to their lack of time to develop in the womb. Characteristics such as underdeveloped muscles and organs, trouble breathing, and low body weight can all be present. These contributing factors result in a longer stay at the hospital in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). During this time oromotor skills and suck patterns are monitored and treated if necessary. A case study concerning a preterm infant named Leona illustrates difficulties that many babies of this nature experience. Leona was diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and exhibited poor oromotor skills and a delayed suck pattern. Pairing the NTrainer with gavage feeds resulted in Leona orally taking 100% of her bottles and an improved nonnutritive suck pattern (Chabon & Cohn, 2011). Nonnutritive
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Nutritive suck is when the child receives milk or another form of nutrient from a bottle or breast, while nonnutritive suck (NNS) is the action of sucking but receiving no nutrients. Appearance of nutritive suck occurs between 15-18 weeks gestational age and NNS becomes stable and accurately patterned by 32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) (Barlow, Burch, Venkatasan, Harold, & Zimmerman, 2012). Both forms hold importance for infants and act as a stepping stone to later developing motor activities. The ability to suck does not imply readiness to exhibit oral feeding skills. NNS in infants does not necessitate advanced swallowing skills, only the ability to handle their own secretions. More time must be allotted for the infant to acquire the abilities needed to independently feed orally. Bottle feeding requires coordination of nutritive suck, swallow, and breathing techniques. This act is not usually attained until 34 weeks PMA (Barlow et al., 2012). If any steps to independent feeding are missing treatment must be provided immediately and efficiently by the
Nutritive suck is when the child receives milk or another form of nutrient from a bottle or breast, while nonnutritive suck (NNS) is the action of sucking but receiving no nutrients. Appearance of nutritive suck occurs between 15-18 weeks gestational age and NNS becomes stable and accurately patterned by 32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) (Barlow, Burch, Venkatasan, Harold, & Zimmerman, 2012). Both forms hold importance for infants and act as a stepping stone to later developing motor activities. The ability to suck does not imply readiness to exhibit oral feeding skills. NNS in infants does not necessitate advanced swallowing skills, only the ability to handle their own secretions. More time must be allotted for the infant to acquire the abilities needed to independently feed orally. Bottle feeding requires coordination of nutritive suck, swallow, and breathing techniques. This act is not usually attained until 34 weeks PMA (Barlow et al., 2012). If any steps to independent feeding are missing treatment must be provided immediately and efficiently by the