MOTHER’S VOICE FOR CONNECTION WITH A PRETERM INFANT UNDER COVID-19 QUARANTINE CONDITIONS

Abstract

Aim. To assess the effect of themother’s voice on themother’s experience and well-being in strengthening the relationship with the infant in the conditions of quarantine due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods. A qualitative study was performed at the Neonatology Center of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics in April 2020 due to the quarantine
introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two mothers whose preterm infants were treated in the neonatal intensive care unit were interviewed. Themothers could not take care
for them because of family reasons. Visit was restricted. One mother made her own voice recording, which was played in the neonatal intensive care unit in the incubator. The other
mother later was hospitalized and actively sang for her daughter while taking care of her. A semi-structured interview was applied remotely, which was analyzed using the method of interpretive phenomenological analysis. The audio recordings of the interviews were made using the dictaphone on the mobile phone during each conversation. Audio transcription 
analysis was applied to the interview recordings. The interview consisted of twomain topics: musical experience and the application ofmusic therapy. Results. Themusical experiences of the mothers varied. The first mother had no musical skills, but made a voice recording. The second mother had experience and sang spontaneously to her infant. It was important for bothmothers that their daughterswould hear them and feel the closeness. For themothers the communication, “touch” throughmusic helped to calm down, express, “release” their feelings, create a connection. One mother paid attention to words and melody.Meanwhile, the other mother sang intuitively. Staff helped by providing information about the infant over the phone and by sending photos or video. Although the mothers only had knowledge about music therapy from a book about preterm infants, after some encouragement to sing to the infants, both enjoyed the new experience. Conclusion. This qualitative study found that singing live or for recording effectively improved mother’s well-being and strengthened the connection with the preterm infant. It helped to show the sense of motherhood while ignoring distance.