Non-Nutritive Sucking for Increasing Physiologic Stability and Nutrition in Preterm Infants
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Foster, J. P., Psaila, K., et al. (2016).
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 10, CD001071.
This meta-analysis investigated the effects of non-nutritive sucking on physiological stability and nutrition in preterm infants, born less than 37 weeks postconceptual age. This article is an update from Pinelli and Symington (2005).
The Cochrane Collaboration; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Inception to February 25, 2016
Randomized controlled trials; quasi-randomized trials
12
Results suggested a significant effect of non-nutritive sucking (NNS) on transition from gavage to full oral feeding (MD= -5.51 days, 95% CI= -8.20 to -2.82), transition from start of oral feeding to full oral feeding (MD= -2.15 days, 95% CI= -3.12 to -1.17), length of hospital stay (MD= -4.59 days, 95% CI= -8.07 to -1.11), and intestinal transit time during gavage feeding (MD= -10.50 hours, 95% CI= -13.74 to -7.26). No significant effects were noted for days to full breastfeeding, number of babies fully breastfeeding at discharge, weight gain, or age at full oral feeding. The evidence on the effects of NNS on behavioral state were inconsistent, and meta-analysis for this outcome was not possible due to heterogeneity in outcome measures. Across all included studies, no negative outcomes were reported.
