Preterm Mother-Infant Interaction: Speech and Humming Condition during Kangaroo Care

Description

The mother-infant interaction is very important and influences the infant's development and mental health. In preterm dyads, a good interaction becomes more difficult, due to the behavioral difficulties and lack of reciprocity that many of these infants present. Maternal singing directed to preterm infant, during the kangaroo Care, has been highlighted as a beneficial strategy for the infant, for the mother and for the interaction mother-infant. Several studies point to the importante role of the contingent singing in the self regulation of preterm infants. The present study aims to evaluate (1) the differences of the quality of the interaction in preterm dyads, in the speech condition and in humming condition, during the kangaroo Care and (2) the association between the quality of the interaction of preterm dyads in speech and in humming condition, during kangaroo Care. This study involved 40 dyads of mothers and their preterm newborns (25-34 weeks of gestational age at delivery) recruited from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Lisbon National Hospital. Each of the mothers was invited to speak and to sing to their preterm infants during the kangaroo-supported diagonal flexion (SDF) positioning. The quality of the dyads' interaction was assessed using the Mother-Baby Interaction Rating Scale (IRS). The present study may contribute to understanding which are the most favorable interaction parameters in the condition of speech and in humming condition in preterm dyads.

Period	17 Jul 2023
Event title	18th World Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) : Early Relationships Matter: Advancing Practice, Policy and Research in Infant Mental Health.
Event type	Conference
Location	Dublin, IrelandShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International