Papers by Eva Van Der Meij
The Journal of …, 2010
To determine whether the development of sucking patterns in small-for-gestational age (SGA) prete... more 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. We assessed sucking patterns in 15 SGA and 34 AGA preterms (gestational age<or=36 weeks) longitudinally from 34 to 50 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) using the Neonatal Oral-Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS). At each measurement, we scored sucking as normal, dysfunctional, or disorganized. We examined the development of their sucking patterns in relation to clinical characteristics. SGA preterms developed a normal sucking pattern later than did AGA preterms (median, 50 versus 44 weeks PMA, P=.002). At term-equivalent age, none of the SGA and 38% of the AGA preterms showed normal sucking (P<.05); at 48 to 50 weeks PMA this was 54% and 81%, respectively (P=.064). Abnormal sucking including "incoordination" and dysfunctional sucking were more prevalent in SGA preterms than in AGA preterms (median, 11% versus 0% per infant, P<.05). A higher gestational age and z-score for birth weight were predictive of normal sucking at 50 weeks PMA. SGA preterms developed a normal sucking pattern later than AGA preterms. Many AGA preterms also developed a normal mature sucking pattern only after they had reached term age.
Infant Behavior and Development, 2010
Neonatology, 2010
relevant clinical characteristics. Results: Thirty (21%) of 142 feeding episodes of the pre-term ... more relevant clinical characteristics. Results: Thirty (21%) of 142 feeding episodes of the pre-term infants with BPD and 36 (23%) of 156 of those without BPD were diagnosed as normal (non-significant). Of the abnormal patterns, 3 were diagnosed as dysfunctional and 229 as disorganized. Before term-equivalent age, definitely abnormal sucking patterns were more prevalent in the pre-term infants with BPD than in those without BPD: 69 (49%) and 47 (30%) episodes, respectively ( 2 = 10.7, p ! 0.01). In particular, the abnormal patterns including the item 'incoordination', defined as the inability to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing, were more prevalent: 36 and 15%, respectively ( 2 = 6.37, p ! 0.05). There was no difference between the two groups regarding the age at which they acquired normal sucking patterns. Relevant clinical characteristics did not influence the development of the sucking patterns. Conclusions: The developmental characteristic of sucking patterns in infants with BPD was that these infants were unable to coordinate swallowing with breathing. This was the case especially prior to term-equivalent age; after term-equivalent age, the development of sucking closely resembled that of pre-term infants without BPD.
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Papers by Eva Van Der Meij