Influence of taste stimulation on sucking pressure in newborn infants at term

PURPOSE: To verify the influence of a taste stimulus on the suction pressure, during the non-nutritive sucking (SNN), in newborns, healthy and with weight appropriate to the gestational age. METHODS: Quasi-experimental study of the non-randomized clinical trial type with a convenience sample of 60 newborns (NB), 30 allocated in the study group (EG) and 30 in the control group (CG). The NB were evaluated for sucking pressure during the SNN in a pacifier. For the EG, a gustatory stimulus was added to the pacifier, moistened with colostrum. The CG did not receive any stimulus, other than the pacifier itself. The average, minimum and maximum pressures were measured with the equipment S-Flex®. RESULTS: The SG presented mean and maximum sucking pressure significantly higher than the CG. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups for the second measurement of mean sucking pressure. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the NB of the SG presented sucking pressures, average and maximum, significantly higher, when compared to the CG. The use of a taste stimulus associated with SNN modified the sucking pressure and seems to enhance oral skills.