Understanding Newborn-Mother Synchrony at Home: Feasibility of Remote Monitoring

NCT07392138 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: #476745
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Parents and newborns influence each other in a dynamic interaction that can be described as synchrony. Synchrony between a newborn and mother refers to the dynamic and reciprocal adaptation between the newborn and mother. In this synchrony, the mother is highly receptive and sensitive to the newborn's signals, feelings, and needs. The aim of this study is to investigate the physiological and behavioral synchrony between newborns and their mothers, and to investigate the connection between maternal heart rate variability and postpartum depression symptoms in the home environment and to evaluate the suitability of remote monitoring devices for use in the home environment. The study participants consist of 30 newborns and 30 mothers. The inclusion criteria for newborns are: 1) informed consent from the newborn's parents/guardians 2) the newborn's health status has been confirmed as normal during hospital monitoring, and 3) the newborn is less than one month old. The inclusion criteria for mothers are: 1) ability to participate in Finnish, and 2) the mother has access to an Android smartphone. Data collection will be carried out using the following remote monitoring methods: Emfit smart mattress, Zoundream Cry analyses technology, Polar Verity Sense sensor, and Empatica EmbracePlus sensor. In addition, data will be collected using background information forms, a maternal stress scale (PSS-4), a diary completed by the mother, a maternal depression questionnaire (EPDS), and questionnaires measuring the suitability of remote monitoring in the home environment, and a thematic interview. In addition, at the end of the data collection phase, the mothers participating in the study will try out the Companion App, which displays sample data on the well-being of newborns, and respond to a questionnaire on the usability of the app.

Conditions

Synchrony

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Physiological synchrony

  Measuring correlation between mother heart rate (mHR (unit: BPM)) and heart rate variability (mHRV (unit ms)) and newborn heart rate (bHR (unit: BPM)) and heart rate variability (bHRV (unit: ms)).

  24 hours

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Behavioral synchrony

  24 hours

• Correlation between mother heart rate variability and depressive symptoms

  Duration of data collection varies from 1 to 4 weeks depending on the mother's decision.

• Correlation between mother sleep and depressive symptoms.

  Duration of data collection varies from 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the mother's decision.

Study Arms (2)

Newborn

Other: Using monitoring devices

Mother

Other: Using monitoring devices

Interventions

Using monitoring devices OTHER

During the data collection, mother and newborn are using the monitoring devices listed in study description.

Mother; Newborn

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 0 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Study population consists of mother-newborn pairs.

You may qualify if:

• ability to participate in Finnish
• Android smart phone available
• received informed consent from both parents/guardians
• the newborn's health has been stated normal during hospital stay
• the newborn is \< 1-month of age

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Turku: lead

Study Sites (1)

Turku University Hospital

Turku, Finland

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Anna Axelin, Professor

CONTACT

+358405029905; anmaax@utu.fi

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 12, 2026
• First Posted: February 6, 2026
• Study Start: April 13, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FI (1)