Background: Post-term pregnancy, a pregnancy exceeding 294 days or 42 completed weeks, is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality and is considered a high-risk condition which requires specialist surveillance and induction of labour. However, there is uncertainty on the policy …

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between sucking patterns and the quality of fidgety movements in preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: We studied the sucking patterns and fidgety movements of 44 preterm infants (gestational age <35 weeks) longitudinally from 34 weeks' postmenstrual age up to 14 weeks …

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the development of sucking patterns in small-for-gestational age (SGA) preterm infants differs from appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: We assessed sucking patterns in 15 SGA and 34 AGA preterms (gestational age

BACKGROUND: Pre-term infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are at risk of acquiring brain abnormalities. Combined with ongoing breathing difficulties, this may influence the development of their sucking patterns. OBJECTIVE: To determine the longitudinal development of sucking patterns from birth …

The studies reported on in this thesis addressed the development of sucking patterns in preterm newborns. Preterm infants often have problems learning to suckle at the breast or to drink from a bottle. It is unclear whether this is due to their preterm birth or whether it is the consequence of neurological …

OBJECTIVE: Coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing to achieve effective sucking is a complex process and even though sucking is essential for nutrition, little is known about sucking patterns after birth. Our objective was to study sucking patterns in healthy fullterm infants and to describe the …