None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study investigates whether playing recorded maternal heartbeat sounds to babies after surgery can improve their recovery. The researchers hypothesise that this familiar, soothing sound will reduce pain, improve physiological stability (such as heart rate, breathing, and oxygen levels), and decrease the need for pain medications. The main outcome will be differences in pain scores over the first 48 hours after surgery, while secondary outcomes include cardiorespiratory stability, analgesic use, stress hormone levels, and parent satisfaction. Overall, the study aims to test a simple, low-risk intervention that could enhance comfort and recovery for vulnerable newborns.
Interventions
What is the intervention:
A recording of the baby's maternal heartbeat (utilising a digital recording stethoscope) placed near the infant and played on a continuous loop for 48 hours after infant returns to the neonatal unit following surgery. The sound level will be carefully checked to ensure it remains within safe limits for newborns (45-50 dB) using the calibrated sound meter and will not interfere with normal care or monitoring. This sound level will be check once per shift and noted on th
What is the intervention: A recording of the baby's maternal heartbeat (utilising a digital recording stethoscope) placed near the infant and played on a continuous loop for 48 hours after infant returns to the neonatal unit following surgery. The sound level will be carefully checked to ensure it remains within safe limits for newborns (45-50 dB) using the calibrated sound meter and will not interfere with normal care or monitoring. This sound level will be check once per shift and noted on the bedside observation chart. All other aspects of the infants care, including analgesia will continue the same regime as is per usual post-operative analgesic management. There is no current guideline or standardisation for neonatal post-operative pain relief and clinical management of analgesia is dependent on Neonatologist/treating medical team on service. Titration and weaning of analgesia is completed following review/discussion with Medical Officer (MO)/ Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP). Pain scores, using the Pain Assessment Tool( PAT) are used to help guide the decision to titrate analgesia weaning.
Sponsors
Mater Mothers' Hospital
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
32 Weeks to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Infants > 32weeks requiring surgery (eligible to use the PAT score) Parents/guardians able provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Infants requiring emergency surgery within 30mins
Outcome results
None listed