The journey from conception to cradle is replete with emotions, transitions, and challenges. From the joy of the first heartbeat to the tumultuous waves of hormones, every expectant mother embarks on an unparalleled adventure. Yet, amidst the beauty, research paints a picture of music that cannot be ignored.
During pregnancy, it's been documented that elevated stress levels can precipitate complications, from preterm labor to lower birth weights to adverse cognitive and behavioral outcomes for the child. As the clock ticks closer to childbirth, about 20% of women encounter mental health challenges. Symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, and irritability shadow their days. Strikingly, a quarter of these women remain ensnared in this emotional quagmire for a year or more post-birth. With the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) underlining that motherhood's challenges don't solely correlate with negative moods, it becomes imperative to explore avenues beyond traditional interventions.
While cognitive-behavioral therapy and prenatal hypnotherapy offer invaluable support, they often collide with the practicalities of modern life. Many mothers, caught in the whirlwind of work, preparations, and finances find it challenging to carve out time or funds for in-person sessions.
Enter the power of music.
Deemed as the language of emotions, music, and music therapy is a non-pharmaceutical, cost-effective, and easily accessible instrument in clinical practice. The act of simply listening to music has shown remarkable analgesic (pain-relieving) and anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) effects. From alleviating depression among psychiatric patients to facilitating connection in children with developmental diseases or the elderly suffering from cerebral diseases, its resonance is profound.
For expectant mothers, this symphony carries added benefits. Just a half-hour of harmonious melodies can drive down cortisol levels, significantly reducing anxiety. Pregnant women who embrace music consistently flaunt higher well-being scores post-birth. Moreover, these effects aren't fleeting; they linger for up to 3 months, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between music and maternal well-being.
Music: A Gateway to Maternal & Fetal Well-being
Fetuses, cocooned in their watery world, aren't oblivious to these melodies. For them, the mother's voice is more than just a series of sound waves; it's a comforting embrace, a unique connection bridging their prenatal and postnatal lives. Research suggests that these little beings might even form memories of speech, music, and melodies setting the stage for their postnatal development and behavioral upsides.
Prenatal sound experiences, like background music, can aid in sleep and feeding for newborns. Notably, 90% of infants exposed to music show positive attitudes, possibly due to musical variations or changes in maternal hormones during pregnancy.
Your Little One’s Developing Ears
The baby’s external ear begins forming at 10 weeks.
By 36 weeks, the middle ear ossicles are fully developed.
By 24 weeks, vital inner ear components are complete, hair cells differentiate and Synaptogenesis and Ciliogenesis occur.
From 19 weeks, fetuses can respond to varied tone frequencies.
For mothers, this connection deepens during pregnancy, especially after mothers perceive the first fetal movements. Singing can amplify this bond, acting as a heart-to-heart conversation with their unborn child. Studies have revealed that music can elevate oxytocin levels, fostering better maternal behavior. It's not just about listening to music - singing carries its own magic. From greatly reducing cortisol to nurturing a deeper connection with the unborn and improving mothers’ self-efficacy, the act of singing carves a special niche.
What’s the Deal With Oxytocin?
While it's primarily associated with labor and breastfeeding, it plays a significant role in mother-infant bonding. Elevated levels of oxytocin during pregnancy and post-birth have been linked to better maternal behavior.
The Impact on Childbirth
Music doesn't just serenade the prenatal period; it graces the very act of childbirth. Whether it's the natural process of vaginal birth or the precise environment of a cesarean section, melodies provide solace. Those who often indulge in music strongly advocate for its presence during both VB and CS.
In vaginal births music during labor raises the likelihood to have a spontaneous delivery, dials down stress, and even normalizes heart rates. Gynecologists and midwives highly recommend the inclusion of music during VB, with a staggering 66% endorsing it.
In cesarean sessions, music plays in the background in an average of 15% of cases. The preferred slow, calming music played at a gentle volume soothes the expectant mother and fosters a positive environment for the medical team, enhancing the patient-medical team relationship.
Proceeding with Caution
Yet, while music plays the role of a healer, it's vital to ensure moderation. Music was not noted to have any significant effects on depressive symptoms, suggesting that while music and singing have numerous benefits, they shouldn't replace other essential therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, overstimulation or inappropriate acoustic interventions can potentially be detrimental.
Devices like audio speakers or megaphones, if used excessively, might do more harm than good. Similarly, music can sometimes be a distraction, leading to communication breakdowns, and thus potential delays in medical procedures. The primary objective between mother, father, and obstetrician should always remain fostering a nurturing constructive pre and postnatal environment.
In Conclusion
The journey of motherhood, with its myriad challenges and transformations, finds a simple, cost-effective, and comforting companion in music. Whether through interventions or daily practices, the power of music stands undeniable. As the research world continues to shed light on its benefits, it's evident that the journey to motherhood is enriched when set to a melodious tune. So whether you're passively letting the music wash over you or actively serenading your unborn child, why shouldn't the miracle of life be accompanied by a life-affirming soundtrack?
HW
Please take the week to create a playlist you will utilize throughout your pregnancy. Envision it comforting you during times of stress and emphasizing times of happiness, whether at home, during pregnancy, or when your little one can share it with you. As a rule of thumb, lean towards slow, soft music that has a calming effect. Once you’ve created it, start practicing singing one or two songs with your partner.
Bibliography
Arabin, B. “Music during pregnancy.” Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 20, no. 5, 2002, pp. 425–430, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00844.x.
Fancourt, Daisy, and Rosie Perkins. “Could listening to music during pregnancy be protective against postnatal depression and poor well-being post-birth? longitudinal associations from a preliminary prospective Cohort Study.” BMJ Open, vol. 8, no. 7, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021251.
Hepp, Philip, et al. “Use of music during vaginal birth and cesarean section: An interprofessional survey.” Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 304, no. 2, 2021, pp. 355–363, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-020-05958-9.
Wulff, Verena, et al. “The effects of a music and singing intervention during pregnancy on maternal well-being and mother–infant bonding: A randomized, controlled study.” Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 303, no. 1, 2020, pp. 69–83, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-020-05727-8.
Glossary
anhedonia- refers to the loss of ability to feel pleasure and is a common symptom of depressive disorders and substance use disorder. It may be caused by a decrease in activation of the region of the brain involved in reward and motivation, referred to as the ventral striatum
perinatal- relating to the time, usually a number of weeks, immediately before and after birth.
synaptogenesis- Synaptogenesis is the formation of synapses between neurons in the nervous system. Although it occurs throughout a healthy person's lifespan, an explosion of synapse formation occurs during early brain development, known as exuberant synaptogenesis.
ciliogenesis - the building of the cell's antenna (primary cilia) or extracellular fluid mediation mechanism (motile cilium). It includes the assembly and disassembly of the cilia during the cell cycle.
Kommentare