Influences of Cheek Support on Sucking Pressure During Bottle Feeding in Infants: A Pilot Study.

Effective sucking is important for shortening hospital stays in newborn infants. Several studies have demonstrated that oral support can improve sucking efficiency. However, the effects of oral support on sucking pressure have not been thoroughly investigated. In our previous study, we reported the equipment configuration and analysis method of sucking pressure. That method of measuring sucking pressure was applied to cheek support. In this study, four newborn infants with low birth weight, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, or multicystic encephalomalacia were enrolled. Their sucking pressures were measured during bottle feeding, both with and without cheek support. In all cases, cheek support increased sucking pressure. However, changes in intake volume and the number of sucking bursts, individual sucks did not show a consistent pattern. Our study indicates a possible association between cheek support and sucking pressure during oral feeding in newborn infants. Larger studies are needed to confirm this effect.