Vital signs, feeding and sleep in premature infants.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/04/10/peds.2012-1367.full.pdf+html

Pediatrics. (Online Journal), originally published April 15,2013. Pp. 902-919. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-1367

The effects of music therapy on vital signs, feeding and sleep in premature infants.

Loewy, J., Stewart, K., Dassler, A., Tesley, A., Homel, P. Beth Israel Medical Center

Abstract OBJECTIVES: Recorded music risks overstimulation in NICUs. The live

elements of music such as rhythm, breath, and parent-preferred

lullabies may affect physiologic function (eg, heart and respiratory

rates, O2

saturation levels, and activity levels) and developmental

function (eg, sleep, feeding behavior, and weight gain) in premature

infants.

METHODS: A randomized clinical multisite trial of 272 premature

infants aged $32 weeks with respiratory distress syndrome, clinical

sepsis, and/or SGA (small for gestational age) served as their own

controls in 11 NICUs. Infants received 3 interventions per week within

a 2-week period, when data of physiologic and developmental

domains were collected before, during, and after the interventions

or no interventions and daily during a 2-week period.

RESULTS: Three live music interventions showed changes in heart rate

interactive with time. Lower heart rates occurred during the lullaby

(P , .001) and rhythm intervention (P = .04). Sucking behavior

showed differences with rhythm sound interventions (P = .03).

Entrained breath sounds rendered lower heart rates after the intervention (P = .04) and differences in sleep patterns (P , .001). Caloric

intake (P = .01) and sucking behavior (P = .02) were higher with

parent-preferred lullabies. Music decreased parental stress

perception (P , .001).

CONCLUSIONS: The informed, intentional therapeutic use of live sound

and parent-preferred lullabies applied by a certified music therapist

can influence cardiac and respiratory function. Entrained with

a premature infant’s observed vital signs, sound and lullaby may

improve feeding behaviors and sucking patterns and may increase

prolonged periods of quiet–alert states. Parent-preferred lullabies,

sung live, can enhance bonding, thus decreasing the stress parents

associate with premature infant care.

Keywords: music therapy, music medicine, acoustic stimulation, NICU music interventions