New research suggests premature babies who are treated with therapies involving their mother's voice and a singing pacifier learn to eat on their own before preemies that do not receive the treatment.
The research team looked at 94 premature babies; they applied a therapy that incorporates the mother's voice with a pacifier-activated music player, a Vanderbilt University news release reported.
The pacifiers would activate the sound of the baby's mother singing a lullaby when it was sucked on, and would stop when the baby stopped sucking. The babies in the study were able to breathe on their own and between 34 to 36 weeks postmenstrual age; they were given the therapy for "15 minutes a day for five days in a row," the news release reported.
"A mother's voice is a powerful auditory cue," study author Nathalie Maitre, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Pediatrics said in the news release. "Babies know and love their mother's voice. It has proven to be the perfect incentive to help motivate these babies."
The mothers in the study were asked to sing either "Hush Little Baby" or "Snuggle Puppy." These songs were approved for the study because of their simple melodies and repetition
"The mothers were enthusiastic to join the study," Music therapist Olena Chorna said in the news release. "Some of the mothers were nervous to sing, but we found they were really grateful to be able to do something to help their babies."
Deborah Locke, whose son Chazon King was born three months early at only one pound, eight ounces, is happy to be able to do something to help.
"I noticed right away, that after his therapy sessions, Chazon's breathing and sucking would get a little better each time. Everyone has been so amazed at how well he is now doing," Locke said in the news release. ""He can't really see me yet because his vision has not developed enough, but he can hear me. Singing to him is something that I can do to comfort him and let him know that I'm here."
The team found babies who received these interventions were able to have their feeding tubes taken out about a week earlier than those who did not.
"The benefits are both medical and emotional as this is a unique way for parents to directly help their children learn a skill crucial to their growth and development," Maitre said. "It gives parents a small amount of control to improve their baby's medical course, in addition to giving them a bonding experience which will last throughout childhood."
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