Preemies and Music:
5 Facts You Might Not Know
Are you pregnant or do you have a
preemie? Both situations can be scary, especially if it's your first time. When
a woman first finds out that she is pregnant, the last thing she is thinking
about is whether or not the baby might come prematurely...not unless she has a
history of pre-term pregnancies.
Understanding and being aware of the healing power of music with preemies can be
very reassuring to the mother-to-be or to the new mother. Here are some
important facts about music with preemies and newborns that you may not know.
1. The fetal ear is beginning to function at the beginning of the second
trimester. In the beginning, baby hears mothers heartbeat, her blood circulating
and other bodily functions such as digestive processes. By the beginning of the
third trimester, baby can clearly hear conversations and lots of the same sound
that mother is hearing.
2. Babies love their mothers' voices and are not at all critical. This is the
voice they associate with nurture, safety, warmth and security.
3. When mother sings or hums to baby, the vibrations create a lovely and loving
sonic massage for baby which strengthens the emotional bond between baby and
mother.
4. Research studies have documented that babies who are sung to in the NICU and
also in the newborn nursery gain weight faster, stabilize their vital signs
faster, cry less and go home sooner.
5. Anecdotal research tells us that the songs that are sung to baby, often
elicit a positive behavioral effect through the pre-school years, especially if
they are reinforced regularly.
With information like this, I believe that mothers around the world will start
singing to their child, born or unborn on a daily basis. I believe that the only
thing that stops most mothers from singing to their babies is the belief that
their voice isn't good enough. Mother must remember that her voice is the one
that baby has been hearing for nine months or almost nine months and it is this
voice that brings comfort to her baby!
What about CD's or tiny MP3 players? Those are second best. If mother is going
to be away for an extended period (over 24 hours for a newborn), recording her
voice singing the same half dozen songs that she sang before birth, would be a
good idea.
There are hundreds of lullaby CD's on the market, including one you can purchase
from me. In addition, you can sing any soothing, comforting song that comes to
mind, including Christmas Carols, folksongs, pop tunes that are slow and happy
sounding or best of all create your own! Songs and lullabies have been sung for
thousands of years. What better heirloom could be passed from generation to
generation?!
Dr. Alice H. Cash is a clinical musicologist who has devoted much of her career
to researching the healing powers of music and teaching professionals and
patients about using music for health and wellness. Her website http://www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com
has been viewed and enjoyed by people around the world. She also has ten blogs,
each one focusing on a different aspect of music healing. Dr. Cash is
particularly fond of working with new mothers, preemies and infants. Dr. Cash is
the mother of three grown-up daughters and has a private practice in Louisville,
KY. She also is an international speaker and speaks to medical organizations,
university groups, church conferences and many other associations. You may
contact her directly to speak for you organization or conference!
To get Dr. Cash's popular
"Lullabies for Mother-Baby Bonding"
click here.
About Author Dr.
Alice Cash: Helping people to use music for Healing and Wellness.
Dr. Cash stresses the use of music for health, learning, motivation,
relaxation, energy building, or well-being. She is known internationally
for her work with music and pregnancy, surgery, addictions, and
Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Cash can be reached through
Healing Music
Enterprises. (www.healingmusicenterprises.com)
You may reproduce Dr.
Cash's articles as long as your use the complete version without editing
including the last paragraph.
Studying with Alfred Tomatis; © Dr. Alice Cash
Follow me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/chantdoc
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