Maternal speech decreases pain scores and increases oxytocin levels in preterm infants during painful procedures

Manuela Filippa, Maria Grazia Monaci, Carmen Spagnuolo, Paolo Serravalle, Roberta Daniele, Didier Grandjean, Manuela Filippa, Maria Grazia Monaci, Carmen Spagnuolo, Paolo Serravalle, Roberta Daniele, Didier Grandjean

Abstract

Preterm infants undergo early separation from parents and are exposed to frequent painful clinical procedures, with resultant short- and long-term effects on their neurodevelopment. We aimed to establish whether the mother's voice could provide an effective and safe analgesia for preterm infants and whether endogenous oxytocin (OXT) could be linked to pain modulation. Twenty preterm infants were exposed to three conditions-mother's live voice (speaking or singing) and standard care-in random order during a painful procedure. OXT levels (pg/mL) in saliva and plasma cortisol levels were quantified, and the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) was blindly coded by trained psychologists. During the mother's live voice, PIPP scores significantly decreased, with a concomitant increase in OXT levels over baseline. The effect on pain perception was marginally significant for singing. No effects on cortisol levels were found. The mother's live voice modulated preterm infants' pain indicators. Endogenous OXT released during vocal contact is a promising protective mechanism during early painful interventions in at-risk populations.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

© 2021. The Author(s).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Procedure diagram of the sample collections, assessments and intervention.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Preterm infants Pain Profile scores presentation in the Control, Singing and Speaking conditions during painful procedures.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Preterm infants’ oxytocin levels (pg/mL) before and after painful procedures in the Control, Singing and Speaking conditions.

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