Effectiveness of Maternal Voice and Lullabies on Pain and Physiological Parameters in Preterm Infants During Aspiration

Background: Painful procedures like oropharyngeal aspiration often disrupt preterm infants’ physiological stability in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Although maternal voice and lullabies are safe non-pharmacological options for pain relief, their effectiveness remains uncertain. Purpose: This study examined the effects of maternal voice and lullabies on pain and physiological parameters in preterm infants during oropharyngeal aspiration procedures in the NICU. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 66 preterm infants (28-36 weeks gestation) randomly assigned to maternal voice (n = 22), lullaby (n = 22), or control (n = 22) groups. Intervention groups received a recording of maternal voice or lullaby for 15 minutes before, during, and 15 minutes after aspiration. The control group received no auditory stimulation. Pain was assessed using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, and heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiration were recorded at 3 time points. Data analysis included chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests with Bonferroni-adjusted Mann-Whitney U tests for post-hoc comparisons ( P < .05). Results: The maternal voice group exhibited significantly lower pain levels during and after the procedure than other groups ( P < .001). Both intervention groups showed improved physiological parameters ( P < .05), with maternal voice showing the most effective outcomes ( P < .05). Implications for Practice and Research: Maternal voice and lullabies may effectively reduce pain and enhance physiological stability in preterm infants during aspiration. Integrating maternal voice into NICU care may enhance pain management and physiological stability in preterm infants. Future research should explore long-term effects, the role of maternal voice characteristics, and the impact of ambient NICU noise levels on intervention effectiveness.