The Effect of White Noise and Recorded Lullaby during Breastfeeding on Newborn Stress, Mother's Breastfeeding Success, and Comfort: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: The study was aimed at determining the effect of exposure to white noise and recorded lullaby during breastfeeding on newborn stress, mother's breastfeeding success, and comfort.

Design and methods: This single-blinded and three-parallel group randomized controlled study consisted of mothers who had given birth and whose newborns were at a hospital in Turkey. Seventy-five participants completed the study. They were assigned to white noise, lullaby, and control groups in equal numbers. Each group included 25 women. The questionnaires included descriptive characteristics of mothers, the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, the Newborn Stress Scale, and the Visual Analog Scale. During the breastfeeding process, the newborn and mother listened to white noise and lullaby for approximately 15 min. The newborn stress and mothers' level of comfort were assessed before and after the interventions. The breastfeeding success of the mother assessed with the LATCH was completed within the first 15 min of breastfeeding.

Results: The mean scores obtained from the Newborn Stress Scale by the mothers in the lullaby group and white noise group decreased significantly after the intervention. A significant difference was also observed in the control group. There were also significant differences between the changes in the mothers' comfort level of all groups. There were significant differences between the changes in the LATCH scores of the groups.

Conclusion: Both white noise and recorded lullaby significantly reduced newborn stress, and increased mother's comfort in the early postpartum period.

Practice implications: Music should be used as a nonpharmacological method to improve breastfeeding success in newborns.