Results: We found a normal sucking pattern on the second or third day after birth in 27
out of 30 infants. During the following weeks we found abnormal sucking patterns in 23
out of 171 feeding episodes (14%) and normal patterns in 148 episodes (86%). Altogether,
between 38 and 50 weeks’ postmenstrual age (10 weeks after birth), 10 infants displayed
a deviating, arrhythmical sucking pattern. Dysfunctional sucking patterns and problems of
coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing did not occur. Birth weight, gestational
age, type of labour and gender did not influence sucking patterns. Arrhythmical sucking
was seen more often in bottle-fed infants.