Contingent Mother's Voice Intervention Targeting Feeding in Hospitalized Infants with Critical Congenital Heart...

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pediatric cardiology
• Developmental neuroscience

Background:

• Infants with critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) face feeding difficulties and neurodevelopmental delays.
• Few interventions exist to support feeding progression in this vulnerable population.
• Contingent mother's voice (CMV) has shown promise in preterm infants but not in CCHD infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a non-nutritive suck (NNS) training protocol using CMV for hospitalized CCHD infants undergoing cardiac surgery.
• To determine if CMV intervention improves oral feeding outcomes compared to standard care.

Main Methods:

• Infants with CCHD were randomized to receive CMV intervention before or after cardiac surgery.
• A control group received passive mother's voice exposure post-surgery.
• Outcomes included discharge weight, oral intake, length of stay, and feeding status at 1-month post-discharge.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in feeding outcomes or discharge status between CMV intervention and control groups.
• Infant's pre-enrollment oral feeding status and illness severity impacted post-surgery intake and time to full feeds.
• Parents in the intervention group reported more positive feelings and fewer feeding concerns post-discharge.

Conclusions:

• The 5-session CMV protocol did not significantly improve feeding outcomes in CCHD infants.
• The intervention demonstrated feasibility and parental empowerment in CCHD infant care.
• Further research is needed on optimal timing, intensity, and duration of CMV interventions for CCHD infants.