An Analysis of Intraoral Pressure to Evaluate Infant Feeding using a MEMS Biosensor

Current understanding of human infant milk transfer (bottle feeding or breastfeeding) does not have a sufficient evidentiary basis for planning interventions and supporting breastfeeding dyads when milk transfer fails. One aspect of this knowledge gap pertains to infant bio-mechanics during feeding. This work investigates the use of a biosensor to characterize infant oral pressure as one factor in feeding bio-mechanics. The methodology comprises a collection of infant oral pressure data during active feeding from breast and bottle using a bio-compatible MEMS pressure catheter. Participants comprised infants aged between 2 to 68 days. Sensor data were mathematically analyzed to evaluate the average magnitude of oral pressure, suckling period, number of suckles, and number of suckling bursts differences during feeding. Results suggest that breastfeeding infants' suckling periods are more varied and, on average, shorter than bottle feeding.