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Effect of reading to preterm infants on measures of cardiorespiratory stability in the neonatal intensive care unit

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 1536–1541 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the impact of parental bedside reading (PR) on cardio-respiratory (CR) stability of preterm infants.

Methods/Study design

Prospective examination of the impact of PR on CR stability in preterm NICU infants. CR data from 3 time points: pre-reading (3 and 1 h before reading), during PR, and post-reading (1 h after reading) were compared.

Results

Eighteen infants born at 23–31wks gestation, and 8 to 56 days old, were enrolled. Episodes of oxygen desaturation to <85% were fewer during PR as compared to the pre-reading periods and were fewer with live and maternal PR.

Conclusion

Preterm infants showed fewer desaturation events less than 85% during PR than prior to reading exposure. This effect persisted up to 1 h after reading exposure. Desaturation events were fewer with live and maternal PR. Voice exposure can be an important way for parents to participate in the care of their preterm infants.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Juliet Grace Smith Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Melissa Scala & Maria Scala

  2. Division of Neonatology Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Suna Seo, Juniper Lee-Park, Christina McClure, Judith Jones Palafoutas & Kabir Abubakar

Authors
  1. Melissa Scala
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  2. Suna Seo
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  3. Juniper Lee-Park
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  4. Christina McClure
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  5. Maria Scala
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Correspondence to Melissa Scala.

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Scala, M., Seo, S., Lee-Park, J. et al. Effect of reading to preterm infants on measures of cardiorespiratory stability in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol 38, 1536–1541 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0198-4

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