Effect of Auditory and Tactile-kinesthetic Stimulation on Preterm Neonates

"Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation involved three sessions per day; morning, afternoon, and evening for 10 days starting day 3 of life (initial contact). The stimulation included three phases; Phase 1: With neonates in prone position, moderate pressure was used to provide 12 strokes with palms of the hands, each stroke lasting 5 seconds. The strokes were provided in each area as follows: head, neck, shoulders and back.~Phase 2: In supine position, twelve moderate pressure strokes with palms of the hands, 5 seconds each, were provided in each area as follows:forehead,cheeks,chest, abdomen, upper limbs (each separately), lower limbs, palms and soles.~Phase 3: Kinesthetic stimulation was done for 5 minutes. The intervention comprised five passive flexion and extension movements of each large joint."

Following informed written consent from mothers,maternal voice was recorded (5 minutes talking to her baby and 10 minutes singing) using Philips Electronics, SA2RGA04KS, Netherlands. Recorded voice was played back inside the incubator or cot via micro audio system, which has been validated for safety and feasibility in previous studies (Doheny et al., 2012. Preterm neonate lay in supine/lateral position and recorded maternal voice was played for 15 minutes three times a day (morning, afternoon, evening) starting on day 3 of life up to day 12 of life (10 days).