Effect of soothing noise on sucking success of newborns

Starting and continuing breastfeeding are influenced by many factors affecting the mother and the infant. No study is found in the literature investigating how to achieve success in the first nutrient-sucking experiences by decreasing the stress experienced by newborns during the adaptation phase of the early postpartum period. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of soothing noise on sucking success in full-term infants.

This semi-experimental study was conducted with a total of 127 newborns: 64 in the control group and 63 in the experimental group. The data were collected by the researchers using the Mother and Infant Descriptive Information Form and the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, in accordance with the literature. Infants in the experimental group (n=63) were exposed to soothing noise (a song) during the first breastfeeding after birth and again 24 hours later, and their sucking success was assessed. No intervention was applied to the infants in the control group.

The results demonstrated that the sucking success of newborns who were exposed to soothing noise in the early postpartum period was higher than that of the control group (p<0.05).

It was revealed that exposure to soothing noise is effective for the development of newborns' sucking behaviors as they adapt to extrauterine life in the early postpartum period.