Immature sucking patterns in infants of mothers with diabetes

Objective. To evaluate immaturity of sucking patterns of infants of mothers with diabetes. Study design. Term infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (16 mothers managed with insulin and 31 with diet alone) were compared with 55 matched healthy infants (control group). Sucking patterns were recorded and analyzed for number of sucks and bursts and averages maximum suck pressure, number of sucks per burst, stick width, and time between bursts. The measurements were made for feedings of 5 minutes duration with Kron's Nutritive Sucking Apparatus on the third day of life. Results. Relative to the control group, newborns of the insulin-treated mothers averaged 5.2 fewer bursts and 42 fewer sucks (P = .013 and P = .04, respectively). No differences were noted for other variables tested. There were no differences in sucking patterns between newborns of diet-managed mothers and control newborns. Conclusion. Poorer sucking patterns were found among infants of insulin-managed mothers with diabetes. The present findings indicate some degree of neurologic immaturity during the early neonatal period.