Effects of Hearing Recorded Mother's Voice on Physiological Reactions and Behavioral State of Sleep, Weight of Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify whether hearing a recording of mother's voice affected physiological reactions, behavioral state related to sleep and weight of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.METHODS: This was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test quasi-experimental design. The participants were 11 VLBW infants in the experimental group and 11 in the control group. In the experimental group, a recording of mother's voice was played to her infant by voice recorder four times each day for five minutes over 10 consecutive days in the incubator.RESULTS: For physiological response (heart rate, respiration rate, oxygen saturation), there were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups. Behavioral state during sleep was more very quiet and quiet in the experimental group. In the daily weight change, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that, for VLBW infants, the intervention of hearing a recording of mother's voice had some significance as a nursing intervention having a positive impact. Such interventions can help pediatric nurses to stabilize the physiological response and maintenance more very quiet sleep state and improve VLBW infants' growth.

Effects of tactile stimulation by fathers on physiological responses and paternal attachment in infants in the NICU

“…One potential explanation is that stimulation of baroreceptors contributes to this relaxed state and thus to decreased HRs (Field et al, 2006). The decreased HR and RR of such infants suggest that they were stabilized physiologically and thus might have experienced reduced energy needs; any resulting energy excess could then be used to support their growth and development (Choi et al, 2014). This result is consistent with the proposition that touch establishes powerful physical and emotional connections between infants and their caregivers and plays an essential role in the development of physiological stability (Underdown et al, 2010).…”

“…loud noises and bright lights) and numerous stressful events (e.g. procedure-related activities); these exposures differ dramatically from intrauterine conditions (Choi et al, 2014;Smith et al, 2011). Tactile stimulation is a gentle, light, and systematic skin-to-skin contact that Liaw (2000) viewed as ''symbols in a language of touch.''…”

“…Most infants admitted to the NICU were born prematurely and are therefore at risk of physiological and psychological disabilities (Choi et al, 2014). However, early care for these infants may not include sufficient environmental stimulation.…”

“…loud noises and bright lights) and numerous stressful events (e.g. procedure-related activities); these exposures differ dramatically from intrauterine conditions (Choi et al, 2014; Smith et al, 2011). Tactile stimulation is a gentle, light, and systematic skin-to-skin contact that Liaw (2000) viewed as “symbols in a language of touch.” For infants in the NICU, chronic exposure to stressors and a lack of the tactile stimulation normally experienced in the womb and during general mothering care is linked to physiological instability, altered brain function, and abnormal motor behavior (Holditch-Davis et al, 2000; Smith et al, 2011).…”

Differences in perceived parental stress between parents with very low birth weight infants and nurses in neonatal intensive care units, South Korea

“…With advances in medical technology, older age at marriage and childbirth, and an increased rate of infertility procedures, the number of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) born before gestational week 37 is dramatically rising over time [1][2][3][4]. As VLBWIs have immature body organs, they begin their life's journey in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for an indeterminate period of time [5,6].…”