Sound-Music Experiences and Maternal Sensitivity Following Preterm Birth: Contributions for the Model of Family-Centered Care.

Abstract

Introduction: The model of Family-Centered Care strengthens the parents’ active role at the caring for the newborn baby. Prenatal maternal sound-music sensitivity increases at the third trimester of pregnancy and shows to be a good predictor of prenatal maternal attachment. Method: preterm mothers (N = 36) were interviewed about clinical and sociodemographic features as well as about their sound-music experiences after and before preterm delivery. Correlations between sociodemographic, clinical and sound-music experiences were performed. Results: sound-music experiences after preterm birth were associated with memories of sound-music experiences during pregnancy and seem to be influenced by previous abortions as well as by babies’ variables (gestational age at birth, weight at birth and chronological age at observation). Conclusion: The assessment of maternal sound-music experiences following preterm birth may be useful in an innovative way to strength the model of Family-Centered Care underlining the mothers’ active role at the attention directed to the vulnerable baby.

Keywords

• preterm dyads
• maternal sound-music experiences
• maternal voice
• memories of pregnancy
• family-centered care