Ultrasound as method to visualise and compare the different sucking patterns between breastfed and bottle-feeding infants - a pilot study: research

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study research was to determine whether ultrasonography can be used to directly visualise and compare the difference in sucking patterns and -mechanisms between infants who were breastfeeding and infants who were bottle-feeding with different types of bottle teats. The main aim of the study was not to determine whether nipple confusion exists, but to determine what the best diagnostic method will be to diagnose nipple confusion. A randomised controlled trial was done and an experimental and control group were used. Ultrasonography was used to directly visualise and compare the difference in sucking patterns and -mechanisms between infants who were breastfeeding and infants who were bottle-feeding. Different makes of bottle teats were compared. There were no statistical differences between any of the variables with significance variance in the different measurements. The null hypothesis can therefore be accepted. There are no differences in nipple and tongue measurements between infants who were bottle-feeding with different types of bottle teats. The sample sizes were very small which makes it more difficult to come to a conclusion. The research showed that ultrasonography can be used to visualise different aspects of neonatal sucking as well as the characteristics of nipples and teats during and between sucking.



Die doel van hierdie voorstudie was om te bepaal of ultraklank gebruik kan word om die verskillende suigpatrone en meganismes tussen babas wat borsvoeding en babas wat bottelvoeding met verskillende botteltiete, ontvang, te visualiseer. Die hoof doel van die studie was nie om vas te stel of tepelverwarring bestaan nie, maar om vas te stel watter metode die beste sal wees om dit te diagnoseer. 'n Ewekansige eksperimentele ontwerp is gevolg en eksperimentele en kontrole groepe is gebruik. Ultraklank is gebruik om die verskillende suigpatrone en meganismes tussen babas wat borsvoeding en babas wat bottelvoeding met verskillende bottel tiete, ontvang, te visualiseer. Verskillende soorte bottel tiete is vergelyk. Geen statistiese verskille is gevind tussen enige van die veranderlikes nie. Die nul hipotese kan gevolglik aanvaar word. Daar is geen verskille in tepel- en tong afmetings tussen die babas wat voeding met die verskillende soorte tiete ontvang het nie. Die steekproewe was baie klein, wat die maak van gevolgtrekkings bemoeilik. Die navorsing het getoon dat ultraklank gebruik kan word om verskillende aspekte van neonatale suiging, asook die eienskappe van die verskillende tiete edurende en tussen suigaksies, te visualiseer.


(Health SA Gesondheid: interdisciplinary research journal: 2002 7(2): 89-99)