文摘
Survival rates have improved dramatically among premature infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. Yet, nutrition and feeding remains a challenge. As the infant grows and enteral feeding are contemplated, one still has to question what facts impact feeding readiness or competence. A study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the maturation of alertness and the acquisition of nutritive sucking competence during the transition to all oral nipple feedings in the neonatal intensive care unit. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.