In an open randomized controlled trial, mothers of premature neonates weighing < 1,750 g were submitted to music therapy session x 3 a week for 60 minutes each. The endpoints were breastfeeding rates at infant hospital discharge and at follow up visits (7-15 days, 30, and 60 days after discharge).

This study demonstrated that music therapy may be useful for increasing breastfeeding rates among mothers of premature newborns. This study aims to evaluate the impact of music therapy, which was applied to mothers of premature newborns during hospital stay, on breastfeeding rates at the time of infant discharge from hospital, and at follow-up visits. The hypothesis is that music therapy can increase those rates...

Inclusion criteria: mothers of stable premature infants with birth weight < 1,750 g , and mothers who had provided informed consent

Exclusion criteria: HIV + mothers, mothers of neonates with clinical problems that impaired breast suction ( e.g., encephalopathy, oro-facial anomalies, heart problems), mothers with severe hearing deficiencies, mothers who has 3 or less music therapy sessions, mothers whose neonates died during hospital stay