The maternal voice in the kangaroo care condition: microanalysis of vocal acoustic parameters, neonatal vital parameters and of the contingent relationship of preterm dyads

The Kangoroo Care has been scientifically referenced as a complementary measure in neonatal intensive care with positive results in the stability of neonatal physiological and behavioral parameters and in the emotional regulation of preterm dyads. The additional effect of maternal singing during the application of the kangaroo method has been reported with positive results in reducing maternal stress and improving the autonomic stability (AS) response of preterm newborns. The maternal voice directed to the baby in the incubator favors the occurrence of contingent behaviors, expressed by the increase in the minimum fundamental frequency (F0) in the maternal voice. This increase follows the occurrence of behavioral episodes of the baby interpreted by the mother as positive during the baby’s exposure to the contingent maternal voice. 6-month-old babies show greater attention span (maintenance of visual contact and less motor activity) during exposure to maternal singing, compared to exposure to maternal speech. The work program we propose to develop has as its target population pre-term dyads of Portuguese nationality whose babies are between 28 and 34 weeks of stabilized “post-menstrual” age, with the following objectives: 1- analyze the vital and behavioral parameters of the baby, under the condition of the presence of the maternal voice spoken and sung during the kangaroo method; 2- analyze the acoustic quality of the maternal voice spoken and sung in the kangaroo condition and 3- analyze, in terms of contingent relationship, the impact of the maternal voice on the baby’s vocal behavior, as well as the impact of the baby’s vocal behavior on the change of parameters acoustics of the maternal voice. During the various observation conditions, neonatal vital parameters, the maternal voice spectogram as well as the dyad’s interactions will be recorded for later analysis, through audio and video recordings.