The Effect of Three Different Sensory Interventions (Mother’s Voice, Mother’s Milk, and Mother’s Holding) During Heel Lance on Pain Level in Term Newborns: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Pain management is an important issue in newborns. This study aimed to compare the effects of three different sensory interventions (mother’s voice [hearing], mother’s milk smell [smell], and mother’s holding [touch]) during heel lance on pain levels in term newborns. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 120 term newborns included in the study were divided into four groups. Pain scores were assessed with Neonatal Infant Pain Scale during and after the procedure. Results: When compared in terms of interventions, newborns in mother’s voice and mother’s holding groups showed statistically significantly less pain response during the procedure compared with the control group ( p = 0.005). But no significance was found in terms of mother’s milk smell. Conclusion: In conclusion, mother’s holding and mother’s voice are effective methods to reduce pain during heel prick procedure in newborns. In addition, both maternal smell and maternal touch may have had an effect in the mother’s holding group. Nevertheless, future studies with different designs on the effect of breast milk smell are recommended. (Trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05526378 .)