Maternal Participation in Sensory Care of Preemies: A Pilot Study Examining the Effect on Neonatal Outcome in NICU

Background Hospitalization with specialized medical care and equipment in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can help preterm infants survive and thrive; negatively it can lead to separation from the mother with an impact on their growth and behavior. It is critical to assess the interventions that are more beneficial for their development at this particular period. The study's objective was to examine the effectiveness of maternal-directed multisensory stimulation in premature neonates admitted to NICU on neonatal outcomes. Methods A pilot, quasi-experimental research was designed where 31mother-preterm newborn dyads were enrolled in the intervention and control group, respectively, using a purposive sampling technique. The study included medically stable preterm neonates admitted to NICU between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation weighing 1 to 2.5kg. The preterm in the study group was given ATVV (Auditory, Tactile, Vestibular, and Visual) stimulation for 10 days by the mother, whereas the preterm in the comparison group received the standard treatment. The neonatal outcomes evaluated were weight, physiological parameters, and behavioral assessment of preterm neonates. Results Preterm newborns who received the intervention scored significantly better than the comparison group on the parameters of heart and respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, weight, and preterm assessment behavior between the 7th and 10th day of the intervention that suggests the effectiveness of the intervention in improving these parameters of preterm newborns. Conclusion Maternal guidance and participation in the care of a preterm newborn have a beneficial neonatal outcome in stabilizing the physiological parameters, and improving the weight and preterm infant behavioral characteristics.