RESUMO
The temporal changes of compression stimuli exerted by baby on the areola-nipple complex during the entire suckling period were investigated in 6 mother-baby pairs of the 4-6-day lactation. It was found that compression stimuli had a triangle form. The duration of the stimuli and inter-stimuli interval varied from 0.3 s to 0.8 s and from 0.1 s to 0.25 s, respectively. The compression stimuli were organized in bursts and a pause of variable duration between the bursts. The mean frequency of the compression stimuli in the bursts was within the range 0.9 imp/s-1.7 imp/s. The average frequency of the entire suckling period in babies was within the range 0.9 +/- 0.3 imp/s-1.1 +/- 0.1 imp/s. Implications of these findings in the suckling neonates are discussed.