Enhancing Neonatal Sucking Reflex: A Study on the Efficacy of Magnesium Sulphate in Severe Birth Asphyxia

Enhancing Neonatal Sucking Reflex: A Study on the Efficacy of Magnesium Sulphate in Severe Birth Asphyxia

Children's Hospital Multan is a tertiary care teaching hospital in South Punjab, the poorest and most backward area of Punjab, Pakistan, where a significant number of newborns suffer from birth asphyxia. Therefore, this study was planned with the objective of investigating the effectiveness of magnesium sulphate in severe birth asphyxia, hypothesizing that in cases of birth asphyxia, neonates who are treated with magnesium sulphate have a higher sucking reflex than those who are not treated with magnesium sulphate.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Full-term babies (≥37 weeks of gestation)
• Both genders
• Severe birth asphyxia
• Admitted within six hours of life.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Premature babies
• Congenital malformations
• Babies born to mothers who received general anesthesia
• Babies whose mothers received magnesium sulfate, pethidine, and other drugs in the past 7 days.