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Clinical Trial
. 2023 Jan;43(1):68-73.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01493-4. Epub 2022 Aug 18.

Effect of maternal voice on proportion of oral feeding in preterm infants

Aditya Chhikara  1 , James I Hagadorn  1   2 , Shabnam Lainwala  3   4
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Effect of maternal voice on proportion of oral feeding in preterm infants

Aditya Chhikara et al. J Perinatol. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the impact of maternal voice exposure on oral feeding in preterm infants.

Study design: Prospective, unblinded, 2-center intervention study of infants born 28 0/7-34 6/7 weeks gestation. Infants were exposed twice daily to maternal voice for 20 min before attempting oral feeding. Feedings were divided into groups consisting of Baseline, Intervention, and Follow-up feeds. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05181020).

Result: 29/37 (78%) mother-infant dyads consented for the study. 25 infants with 2051 feedings were included. Compared to the preceding Baseline, Intervention feeds were associated with an adjusted 7.1 percentage-point increase in oral intake (p = 0.036) and in post-hoc analysis a 71% increased likelihood of having the highest feeding readiness score (p = 0.003).

Conclusion: Exposure to maternal voice prior to enteral feeding is feasible and was associated with significantly improved oral feeding proportions in preterm infants.

Clinical trial registry: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05181020).

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