Female infants tend to do better than males when born prematurely, according to a recent study.

Researchers at Loyola University Medical Center found that female infants independently orally fed one day earlier than males. The ability to suck, swallow and breathe simultaneously are reflexes that many premature infants are unable to do. Learning to master these skills and eat independently without feeding tubes is necessary before an infant can safely go home from the hospital.

"This study gives us insight into the factors that influence when an infant is likely to eat independently without complications," Jonathan Muraskas, senior author of the study, said in a statement. "This information will allow parents and the healthcare team to better plan for when the infant will go home from the hospital."

For the study, researchers conducted a review of 2,700 preterm infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy who were admitted to a level III neonatal intensive care unit between 1978 and 2013.

Researchers found that premature infants achieved independent oral feeding at 36 weeks and four days on average. In addition to their gender findings, researchers revealed that being born before 29 weeks of pregnancy negatively influenced the infants' ability to eat independently (37 weeks and three days versus 36 weeks and one day for babies born between 29 and 33 weeks of pregnancy and 36 weeks and three days for babies born late preterm between 34 -- 36 weeks and six days of pregnancy). Preterm infants born with severe complications also experienced a delay in independent oral feeding.

The findings, which are detailed in the Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, confirm that the majority of preterm newborns can be safely discharged three to four weeks before their due date.