Are you pregnant or have a premature baby? Both situations can be scary, especially if it’s the first time. When a woman first learns that she is pregnant, the last thing she thinks about is whether or not the baby might be born prematurely … not unless she has a history of premature pregnancy.
Understanding and being aware of the healing power of music with premature babies can be very reassuring for the expectant mother or the new mother. Here are some important facts about music with preemies and newborns that you may not be familiar with.
1. The fetal ear begins to function at the beginning of the second trimester. At first, the baby listens to the mother’s heartbeat, her blood circulates, and other bodily functions such as digestive processes. By the beginning of the third trimester, the baby can clearly hear conversations and many of the same sounds that the mother hears.
2. Babies love their mothers’ voices and are not critical at all. This is the voice they associate with nurturing, security, warmth, and security.
3. When the mother sings or hums to the baby, the vibrations create a lovely and loving sonic massage for the baby that strengthens the emotional bond between the baby and the mother.
4. Research studies have documented that babies who are sung in the NICU and also in the nursery gain weight faster, stabilize their vital signs faster, cry less, and go home sooner.
5. Anecdotal research tells us that songs sung to babies often have a positive behavioral effect during the preschool years, especially if they are regularly reinforced.
With information like this, I think mothers around the world will start singing to their children, born or not, every day. I think the only thing that stops most mothers from singing to their babies is the belief that their voice is not good enough. The mother must remember that her voice is what the baby has been listening to for nine months or almost nine months and it is this voice that gives her comfort!
What about CDs or small MP3 players? Those are the second best. If the mother is going to be away for an extended period (more than 24 hours for a newborn), it would be a good idea to record her voice singing the same half dozen songs that she sang before she was born.
There are hundreds of CDs of lullabies on the market, including one that you can buy from me. Plus, you can sing any soothing and comforting song you can think of, including Christmas carols, folk songs, slow and happy sounding pop tunes, or best of all, create your own! Lullabies and songs have been sung for thousands of years. What better relic could be passed down from generation to generation ?!