Dear Mardrey,

The refs are:  Field,T., E. Ignatoff, S. Stringer, J. Brennan, R. Greenberd,
S. Widmayer, and G.C. Anderson. Non-Nutritive sucking during tube feedings:
Effects on preterm infants in an intensive care unit. Pediatrics, 1982;
70:381-84.

Bernbaum,J. G. Pereira, J. Watkins, and G Peckham. Non-nutritive sucking
during gavage feeding enhances growth and maturation in premature infants.
Pediatrics 1983; 71:41-45.

Read the work of Heloise Als on state organization and signs of stress in
infants.  Wonderful work.

Als,H. A synactive model of neonatal behavioral organization: Development in
the premature infant and for support of infants and parents in the neonatal
intensive care environment.  Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
1986; 6:3-53.

Certainly I always hope that interventions are short lived, that all bottles
contain human milk, and that non-nutritive sucking experiences are
encouraged to take place at breast, even if infant is too weak to dependable
get much actual nutrition from the breast.  That helps insure transitioning
back.
Barbara

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin, Texas
Owner, Lactnews On-Line Conference Page
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html