Skip to main content

Table 6 Correlation between the parameters assessed on second day postpartum and the way of feeding 3 months after childbirth

From: Neonatal breast-suckling skills in the context of lactation and peripartum hormonal changes and additional factors—a pilot study

Assessed element

Way of feeding after 3 months

P-value

Tongue positioning

60% of children who had normally positioned tongue were fed naturally

0.0397

Searching reflex

57% of children who correctly expressed search reflex were fed naturally

0.0410

Suckling reflex

57% of children who showed normal suckling reflex were fed naturally

0.0410

Wide mouth opening

94% of naturally fed infants opened their mouths wide after the area below the nose was touched with the nipple during the assessment of suckling function

0.0107

Angle between the lips

88% of infants with an obtuse angle between the lips were fed naturally

0.0267

Depth of nipple grasp

85% of children who held a large part of the areola in the mouth were fed naturally

0.0430

Position of the areola

97% of children who correctly grasped the areola, with the lower lip covering more than the upper lip, were fed naturally

0.0053

Champing and smacking

None of the still naturally fed infants showed champing and smacking on day 2 of life

0.0390

Suckling movements assessed before feeding

Normal and fast movements were observed in all naturally fed infants

0.0390

Deep suckling movements

Normal deep suckling movements during milk outflow were observed in all children fed naturally

0.0380