In the secret life of the unborn child, he writes of research studies done using loud noises near the mother testing the baby's response to the noise in hopes to determine if development of personality begins in utero. To help the mother be more aware of the consciousness of the baby in utero the mother could use different types of recorded music and note how the baby responds. An even better alternative would be to have the mother sing to the baby. It is a closer source and a more familiar sound. The mother could also use an instrument (xylophone, guitar) and see how the baby responds to the sounds and vibrations. The mother should notice if there are changes in baby’s movement.
Yes great ideas Melissa. It would be interesting to use different musical sounds- instruments, singing, and instruments and see if the baby has more responses to a particular sound. She could keep a log or a journal noting baby's responses. Also Melissa, when during the pregnancy would you recommend that the mother should start with the sounds and the observations?
The readings state the baby's hearing is developed around 16 to 17 weeks, but could possibly feel vibrations earlier. The baby could benefit from feeling the vibrations of the music earlier, and can benefit from hearing the music starting around 16 weeks. However, the observations could begin as soon as the mother can feel the baby's movements. I know everybody is different, but usually a mother would not feel the baby's movements before 16 weeks. Observations could begin after 16 weeks when baby's movements can be felt.
Researchers have noted that babies respond to music in the womb. (Mothers have known this all along!) One way we can help mothers be more aware of a baby’s consciousness in the womb is simply to have the mother listen to music. Babies respond to music both positively and negatively. According to researchers, babies prefer to hear calmer music such as that from Vivaldi and Mozart over composers like Beethoven or music from rock bands. However, each baby is different so a mother could listen to different composers/genres to see what responses she gets. Another way we can use to music to help mothers be aware of the baby’s consciousness is to have the mother sing to the baby. Not only will the baby likely respond by moving around in the womb, but the mother is actually bonding with the baby during the process.
Yes when mother is singing to the baby in utero she is actively communicating with baby and establishing the prenatal bond. Listening to music benefits both mom and baby as it can reduce stress hormones and increase relaxation.
As Melissa stated above, once the mother begins feeling the baby move she can begin to record the babies response to different types of music. This is a great time to create A playlist of songs that are calming both for the mother and the baby, this playlist can be used throughout the pregnancy and then after baby is born as well. Sounds the baby hears in the womb can be very comforting in the outside world when the baby becomes distressed with all the changes. A Playlist of songs or a set of lullabies that the mother sings can remind the baby of when it was cozy and happy in the womb, and help calm them down.
Yes I love the idea of a set of lullabies that mother sings. It would be great to record them so baby could hear them after birth during times when Mom is not available or has to return to work soon after giving birth. Joanne Lowey talks a lot about songs of kin... they could even be familiar family or popular songs sung in the lullaby style.
One idea might be to go through a series of different types of recorded music, allowing the mother to hear it through headphones. During the listening experience, we might encourage the mother to notice any subtle changes in the behavior of the baby. This experience can draw a picture of how some fetal reactions come from awareness of emotional, conceptual and physiological changes from the mother's reaction to her environment (which at the time will be filled with music!). If these songs evoke particularly good responses and warm feelings, they can be repeated throughout gestation and used to calm an upset baby after birth.
For me, as a music therapist, it is very important question especially if we want to work and “motivate” new moms to be aware of baby s, in utero, consciousness world. To be honest there is still scepticism (at least here in Serbia) about prenatal consciousness therefore, firstly we should have to inform them about the facts that unborn child is feeling, remembering, aware being and as Verny said: “ because he/she is, what happens to him / what happens to all of us - in the 9 months between conception and birth molds and shapes personality, drives and ambitions in very important ways.” Speaking about sound and music intervention I would definitely motivated them to sing to their baby, to make a song, lullaby, to sing it intentionaly and to follow reactions. To make some kind a musical diary. In that way mother can start to bond with her baby very early which will changed her own perspective and awareness during the pregnancy. Also I will suggest mother to make her own playlist for relaxation as well.
The short answer to this question is: everything. The longer answer is as follows. We need to make many things into consideration as music therapists. The first thing I will talk about is the environment. The unborn child can sense the environment around him/her. Therefore, we need to make the environment that we are conducting our sessions in as comfortable for the mother and baby as possible. First, the mother needs to be comfortable because if she doesn't not feel comfortable, her stress, heart rate, and hormones with transfer to the baby and cause stress in the womb. The baby, in turn, also needs to be comfortable. The environment we conduct our sessions in should not have harsh lighting or loud noises because we know from the readings and research that babies shy away from both.
When working with prenatal infants, we need to be gentle to them and remember that we are a foreign person to them. Their lives are inside the womb, and they may become scared of others outside who are not the mother.
A third consideration is that we must be aware of the babies wake and sleep cycles and when we conduct our sessions. Since most prenatal infants are more active at night, it may be prudent, if possible, to conduct sessions at night, rather than to disturb sleep.
Musically speaking, again, we need to take into consideration the volume, the timbre, and the tempo of the music we are using. If possible, the mother should be singing to the baby, with the music therapist, as the mother's voice will be the most comforting and familiar.
The mother should play a vital role in selecting the music. Music that makes the mother comfortable will likely make the baby comfortable as well, for reasons stated above.
The mother should address the baby in a soothing way, but also be aware that the baby can hear and understand what she is saying, especially if the baby is passed the gestational period when hearing develops.
One of the things I did while pregnant was to sit with the guitar on my lap and play gentle music in front of my stomach, while fingerpicking. This often helped soothe my son, which I could tell by decrease movements and a general calm feeling washing over me. I would recommend the guitar and other instruments that create vibration be an integral part of prenatal music therapy.
That's a really good idea to do sessions at night, when the baby is more likely to be awake! I love the consideration you place on the baby in utero, not wanting to disturb their sleep.
When the mind is quiet the mother will become more aware, more in tune. Meditative practices such as chanting, yoga and playing the Tibetian Singing Bowl can help the mother become more aware of herself and consequently the other life within. The connection between mother and child is so intertwined and giving the mother the tools to come to a greater discovery of this connection is so important. Engagement with the child is also helpful, lullabies and singing in soothing tones, songwriting welcoming the child and expressing affection and rituals preparing the mother to welcome the incarnating spirit will all improve the connection and therefore improve the awareness of each other's consciousness. The more the mother is reminded of her child and her connection, the stronger the bond.
Yes time must be spent actively and quietly listening. The communications will come. You must be patient and open your mind. I had one very significant pre-birth communication with each of my children while they were in utero. I remember each communication very distinctly and felt they were intentionally communicating with me. So amazing!
As music therapists we can use music as a means to encourage and assist mom in bonding with baby. A strong, reciprocal, and fluid bond will help mom uncover what she already knows on some level, that baby is conscious of the world! And most of baby's world IS mom.
On an environmental level mom should be as comfortable as possible. The music therapist could provide bolsters, different kinds of seating, tea, fruit, essential oils, and a variety of lighting to support mom. Supporting mom means that all the good neurohormones are flowing to baby and in turn supporting baby. The music therapist should also be able to provide any kind of music (within volume limits of course) that mom feels would benefit the growing connection to her baby.
Music therapists should find out what mom likes, but also what makes her feel connected to her family (lullaby her dad sang, song her grandma loved, etc). With the right instrumentation, tempo, and volume anything can be turned into a lullaby that will soothe baby. Ideally mom will do the singing, but if she is uncomfortable the MT could sing with her, or set her up to do the singing when she is alone with baby.
Mom should be encouraged to note baby's physical responses to music within and and outside of a music therapy session. With Dr. Verny's experience in mind, we should also suggest to mom that she is able to intuit or sense baby's emotional state when movement isn't present.
I believe we need to be very careful to empower mom without creating anxiety that everything she does may have a lasting impact on baby! Her input is the most important thing to baby but we don't want to "mom blame" or "mom shame" when anything goes wrong. It's more important to empower mom to know that her love is a beautiful and powerful force to influence the rest of baby's life.
I also find a lot of people have that anxiety! That "everything I do is impacting baby so I need to be calm at all times" which only stresses them out. I think it was Mary who explained once that spikes of stress are normal and can be balanced out with calm most of the time. It's when a mom is constantly under stress that problems arise (for her and for baby in utero). I try to remember to tell that to my clients to help ease some of that anxiety/stress/guilt/shame. I don't have any kids myself, but I know a lot of moms who hold "mom guilt", so anything we can do to ease or get rid of that, I am all for!
I appreciated the part of the video where someone asks about 'what if I had a terrible pregnancy, and my child has problems as a result?' and she says the answer is love. Love heals. This can happen after birth too.
Yes to all Laura. We can use music to enhance communication and deep relaxation which will promote connection between Mom and baby.But you make a very important point- we need to make sure we are not increasing anxiety in the mother because that could cause additional negative effects for Mother and baby. Pre-birth communication happens when you least expect it.... I experienced it once at the dentists office while sitting quietly and listening to music!
What are ways that we can use music to help mothers be more aware of the consciousness of the developing baby in utero?
At four to five months the fetus responds to sounds and melody. Vivaldi and Mozart will assist to relax the baby where Beethoven and Brahms and forms of rock will promote kicking and moving. Mothers can take a few minutes each day to listen to soothing music which will help the child to feel more tranquil and relaxed. At 24 weeks, the child is now listening all the time with the loudest sounds being his mother’s stomach, the maternal heartbeat, and the low but audible sounds of their father. The heart beats regular rhythm provides a sense of security which stays with the child. Along with the heartbeat it also plays into our musical preference. By the 25th week the fetus will jump in rhythm to the beat of an orchestra drum.
Understanding the fetus response and preferences to music can assist the mother in being more aware of the fetus’s development. The mother can interact more with the child through different music such as Vivaldi at night to help calm and relax and Beethoven more in the day when she is excited.
I tend to stick with music of Vivaldi and Mozart as I find that many Beethoven pieces have sudden shifts or loud percussive sounds that might be startling or too stimulating for baby.
I loved everyone's responses about making playlists, mom singing lullabies (especially special ones past down through the family) using headphones to isolate the hormonal changes/impact and using instruments/vibrations.
I would add a few ideas:
-Movement to music. Have mom (and partner) experience different types of movement paired with matching music at differing levels of intensity and energy. (Stretching songs, songs for stillness and meditation, songs for dancing/higher energy, songs for rocking, songs for practicing labor positions, songs for intimacy, songs for massage, songs for the ball, songs for movement in water, and songs for different poses that relief any pain the mother may be experiencing. Have mom and partner take note of how baby reacts to each of these experiences, tune into baby's preferences and learn to synch up the music with the movement.
-Communicating with baby by narrative singing. I would encourage mother, partner, siblings and any other significant relative/friends to sing directly to baby who they are, what they are doing, where they are, describing the scene/activity/smells/taste, etc. how they feel about the baby (welcoming him/her, excitement, etc.) Basically communicating with the baby to start building the relationship right away. If people are embarrassed to sing, they could speak in a rhythmic way with more of a nursery rhyme cadence. Have mom pay attention to the child's responses.
-I think it would be awesome to create a kicking game song! It would be fun to write little piggy-back children's songs that facilitate call/response movement from the womb, just like we would with small children. It would be structured so the music happens in response to the kicking (and describes the game in the lyrics) and the baby has control of when the music starts/stops :)
-It would be cool as well to start pairing songs with daily activities. Like a CD mom listens to while cooking, sleeping, driving, walking, cleaning, eating, etc. That way baby can start to connect the activity with the music, which could help to prepare him/her for what's happening and smooth the transition into the world when he/she is born. Again, have mom notice the responses/reactions.
-Always take into account culture. It would be good to use music in the mother's native language or music that has cultural significance. Try world music or different styles and see what makes mom/baby feel the most connected.
-Trying humming and toning with mom or partner (with partner's mouth closer to belly) you could experiment to see baby's favorite pitches/keys and also use it as a relaxation tool. This could be replicated during labor, and finding songs in mom's/baby's favorite keys could support the singing/toning to release the sensation/pressure.
One more I would add would be an Iso Principal Playlist. You could have mom create a 30 minute playlist that matches the baby's state and gradually/gently helps him/her move into another state (for example from active/alert to calm/resting or vise versa.) So the music would match one intensity and gradually move to another.
Anther possible useful tool could be using live instruments/vibrations to experiment with baby's position or seeing if baby moves closer/further from sound sources/vibrations, especially if we are hoping baby will turn/flip later on in the pregnancy.
I love the kicking game idea! It sounds so playful, and introduces a way for the partner and/or other family members (siblings/aunts/uncles/grandparents) to be able to connect with the baby in a more concrete way.
Yes Summer I love all these ideas. It would be interesting to see if baby shows a preference for certain keys in the womb! And I love the kicking game song idea! These are all such wonderful ideas. I suggest that you copy and paste these into a Google document so you can reference them and use them later. :)
I loved reading everyone's ideas!! Summer, I love the playlist ideas and the kicking game and all the movement ideas!
We can use music in such beautiful ways to connect mothers (and fathers) to their sweet developing babies and therefore bring the parents more awareness of the consciousness and preciousness of their child. Here are a few of my ideas to add:
-Breathing exercises or relaxation with music (calm, easy-listening instrumental music) to match (and calm) mom's heart rate. We read about the beauty and security that mom's steady heartbeat brings baby. Encourage Mom to relax and also to imagine her heart beat resonating peace for her and her child together. It could also be a calm time for Mom and Dad and baby just to be together in the music, listening to each other and acknowledging the joy of being in each other's presence.
-Write a Womb Song together for an opportunity for the parents to express their love for their child and as a way to continually connect with their child outside sessions
-Sing lullabies together and encourage "snuggling" for the families. Touching their bellies and even imagining how Mom has provided a beautiful womb (warm, comfortable, safe) for their little one to peacefully rest in. As a therapist, of course, we can make our session rooms as comfortable as possible, too!
-Incorporating lyrics that validate the child's dignity and value (even though so small), and if appropriate, incorporate faith-based lyrics for meditation and gratitude (ex. Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.")
So many great ideas here! Thanks for inspiring me, ladies.
I love everyone's comments! You have some great insights and creative ideas, everyone. Expanding on Dorian's idea above, we can schedule sessions when the baby is generally in an alert state or sleep state, and use music to match that state. This goes along with Summer's iso principle playlist idea, but playing music live to transition them to whatever state is more beneficial for bonding. If the baby is in a sleep state, introducing very sedative, slow music that gradually speeds up and becomes more energetic. This can gently transition the baby to an alert state, and the period of time the baby is more active can be used by the parents to connect with their baby. They can sing, hum, and/or talk to their baby. They can also use light instrumentation or tapping on the belly to bring their baby's awareness to that area. Which book was it that said some people have made it a kicking game with their babies? This goes along with what Summer suggested above ( which I love!).
When the session is over, the MT and parents can start to gradually lower the energy of the music until it is sedative again, to help transition the baby back to a sleep state, if necessary. This will also help the mother end on a very relaxed note, which will wash her baby in those awesome hormones. And, ending with quiet, sedative, meditative music will also prime the mother and/or family to have some quiet reflection/communication time with their baby (like Mary mentioned). I also echo the idea of using cultural music of the family. This can help the family feel connected to their baby, if they start to share their customs and culture with the baby before they are born. As their MT, I would demonstrate and educate on all these things, and then encourage the mother and family to continue doing those things on a regular basis.
Of course, the parents can still bond and become aware of their baby's consciousness if the baby is already in a sleep state when the session begins. The live music would match the sleep state, and some guided imagery could be introduced as a way to better bond with their baby. For example, the MT could have the parents imagine their baby with questions like, "Picture your baby's toes" or "hear your baby's laugh" or "feel your baby's hiccups" or "smell your baby's hair", and encourage them to rub the baby in utero while listening to the guided imagery and music. During this exercise, I would have the parents talk to their baby, either in their mind, or aloud, encouraging them to tell the baby how they feel about the baby, how they feel about meeting the baby and learning about their personality, etc. I would encourage them to journal their experience afterward. If I included the journaling as part of the session, I would continue the sedative music to encourage the same state of mind.
So many great ideas and reflections Laura. Thank yo for sharing! That is why I keep the blog open so you can always come back and re-read the ideas of this group and previous group members. Such a great community of music therapists here! :)
I think one of the most important things we need to consider when thinking about this question is putting mom (and to an extent, baby) in charge! As therapists, we are perhaps best employed as a consultant, educator, and guide for mom as a part of what is always a very personal and individualized experience. We can provide information and suggestions about her baby’s consciousness and awareness in the womb, and help her to decide what are the best ways for her to connect with her child.
A few previous posts have mentioned movement to music. I really love this idea and agree that it would probably go a long way in helping mom to relax - physically and mentally - which in turn will hopefully have the same effect on her child, releasing those positive hormones! Thinking about the iso principle ideas suggested by Summer and Laura, I wonder if using the iso principle with both mom and baby within a movement intervention may also enhance experiences of relaxation, or help to energize and refresh mom and baby, depending on their needs in the moment.
I also think that it would be very important to try and use the mother’s preferred music, songs of kin, and music that is culturally appropriate, as mentioned by some other posters. Not only will this music encourage mom and help her feel comfortable in actively creating music for her baby, but it may also release more of those positive hormones, enhancing bonding between mom and baby. Having mom sing these songs for her baby would obviously be preferred, given the effects that we know the mother’s voice can have, how infant-directed singing can promote active listening, and the preference that infants show for infant-directed speech and singing.
Yes to all! And we also need to guide in the beginning but also be present and allow the mother discover her process and her relationship with her baby in the music.
There are many things to take into consideration when supporting a mother and developing baby in utero. As we have discussed, a developing baby can hear, see, smell, taste and feel almost everything that the mother is experiencing. While that can be a daunting idea, as music therapists we should assist the mother to enhance and enrich prenatal bonding. Creating an environment that is comfortable, safe, and relaxing for the mother will transfer to the baby. The environment which we conduct sessions should be a calming and quiet place where the mother can be aware of the movements of the baby in utero. Music that makes the mother comfortable should in turn also make the baby in utero feel relaxed and soothed. As a music therapist we can also guide the mother to choose music that is appropriate for the unborn child. Tempo, volume, range and instrumentation greatly affect the baby. The mother should be encouraged to be aware of any movements or physical responses to the music being played during sessions. Singing lullaby’s, listening to classical music (Vivaldi and Mozart), and songwriting can assist in prenatal bonding and development. Using meditation or relaxation techniques such as singing bowls or chanting can elicit a connection between the mother and child in utero. Encouraging awareness and active listening will help strengthen the mother/child connection.
Helping the mother to relax with the music will have so many benefits for the baby as well and help develop healthy relaxation techniques that will serve her and baby well during pregnancy and after birth. :)
I love the idea of encouraging and facilitating the growth of the relationship with the baby through song. Writing lullabies together, learning lullabies from their culture together, and making a CD of those songs would be some ways to do so. There are studies that show that babies will recognize the songs they heard in utero, and their mother and father's voice will be the most special to them of all. As the music therapist, I can also encourage awareness of the fetal response to the music and movement or relaxation activities that we create in our sessions.
We could start by simply playing some different musical selections such as Vivaldi or Mozart and take note of how the baby might respond to pre-recorded music. I like the idea that was mentioned above about putting into place a record log to note what stimuli the baby is responding to and not responding to. We can try some different instruments where the baby can feel the vibration like the ukulele or guitar gently played and held up to mom's tummy to see if there is a response there. We can try some of the higher pitches as well as lower pitches and see if that elicits any type of response from the baby. We can try music with tempo that is within the heart beat range as one of the author's was talking about in their book. Also, I think just utilizing mom's voice and having her sing along to lullabies and any music that she in particular enjoys to start to create even more that familiarity that the baby knows with the mother's voice but with singing (I think this is most important to work toward after initially assessing musical response). Using music, we can really help mom and family bond with the baby while in utero and help to create those positive experiences that the readings suggest to help promote well-being, security and confidence in the baby.
Yes assessing baby's response to different types of music is good but singing with parents' voices especially mother's voice is most important use of music in prenatal music bonding
loved reading everyone’s suggestions! I think taking into consideration the sleep/wake cycle mentioned above could be really beneficial for helping mums to connect and means that music can be more effectively and strategically used at certain times.
I think the creation of a womb song, although used in many other cultures for centuries, is something that can be not only very special, but extremely beneficial for both pre and post-natal bonding. If you take into consideration the concept that babies develop awareness and consciousness almost immediately after conception and recall some of the incredible stories of people remembering very specific details, what better way to let them know in utero that they are wanted and loved, then by creating their very own song? And a womb song is something that is surely going to help newborns transition to ‘earth side’ immediately after birth. Even the simple act of choosing very specific and intentional music that is played regularly during pregnancy, can be so effective in helping with calming post-birth, so making the mother aware of this is also going to offer her a deeper opportunity for connection and bonding and highlight her own power. I love one of the suggestions above that a mother could play different types of music and observe foetal responses through movement – this could really help her to focus on which songs may be best suited to her and her child and a playlist could be created. It also demonstrates to the mother the earliest signs of not only musical preference, but choice, from her child.
I also think that sharing accessible research and video resources that back up our work, is going to be really important in developing her awareness and would probably encourage the use of music during pregnancy. I just loved reading all the material about consciousness and the amazing stories and I know it would certainly change some of my behaviours if I were to have another pregnancy!
The sleep wake cycle is something that I've noticed. I'm more of a night owl than my wife so when I get to bed singing to our baby always gets a reaction from her as she tend to be awake when my wife is asleep.
What are ways that we can use music to help mothers be more aware of the consciousness of the developing baby in utero?
I must share that I was initially a bit resistant to the level of consciousness these readings have conveyed about the infant in utero. I think it will be important to first give some of these literary references to the moms to introduce the idea of prenatal consciousness.
Beyond that, we could have songs of kin (Dr. Joanne Loewy) for each family member (mom, dad, siblings if applicable). We could create a baseline by first introducing each family member to the infant. Early on they could be intentional about talking to the baby for, say, ten minutes a day. They can say common and relevant phrases such as, "Hi Baby. I am your brother, Sid. I love you", etc. After a few weeks or so, have each family member sing a specially selected song every day. It would be interesting to see, over time, how the infant reacts to the family member's voice and their songs!
Our baby's reaction to various music is quite evident at 27 weeks. She seems to moves slowly during ballads. Of interest is we went to see the new Star Wars movie and the loud sounds led to her kicking furiously. I've also noticed more movement from her as she reacts more strongly to low notes played on my acoustic over high pitched ones. It would be very obvious to any mother that their in utero baby reacts to different sounds, songs, & rhythmic patterns. As a music therapist, one could show the expectant mother these realities which would further the awareness of their baby's consciousness.
Using music that is pleasant to mom will release endorphins into the blood stream, letting baby know that everything is okay. Adding touch and singing along with the music, will create an intimate moment for mom and baby that will let the baby know he/she is loved and wanted.
What ways can we use music to help parents become aware of the consciousness of the baby? Since many mothers and fathers to be may be unaware of the level of consciousness of the unborn child developing in utero, music is a wonderful way to communicate and "feel" the response of the baby in its movements and activity. It might be instructive to have mothers listen to music they love and see the response and then listen music they don't like and see if there is a difference in the way the baby responds. If they can sense this, then it is easy to help them understand that the mother's emotions about everything is having an effect. I also can imagine using music to quiet an active baby down so the mother can sleep better!
Parents could become more aware of the consciousness of their babies by experimenting with different kinds of music. Perhaps listening to fast music with strong rhythms and paying attention to how active baby is compared to when they listen to calm and slow music. Perhaps once they see this difference, we can move forward with incorporating deep breathing along with that relaxing music and even tracking mom's heart rate - how she is responding to the music and therefore how baby is responding with or without movement. Being pregnant, I feel a little silly about talking to my unborn baby sometimes as a means of bonding but singing is a more comfortable place to start so I find myself singing and humming around the house more now that I'm pregnant. This might be a good "in" for other moms who feel silly talking to their stomachs to start and it's a great way to bond and get baby familiar with some tunes you can use after they are born as well!
I think that teaching and exposing parents to the concepts of prenatal consciousness helps them understand that their babies reactions to sounds, music, voices, are not just a fluke; rather, it is a conscious response to a presented stimuli. When you believe and understand that the baby is making a conscious reaction and engagement, you can begin to make more specific and thoughtful choices with what you expose baby to.
Yes! When I was pregnant I played guitar a lot and my little guy would kick me (and the guitar) often. I hoped it was because he liked it! I noticed also that when my husband played the viola da gamba (a cello-like instrument) that the baby was always very calm and didn't kick. Interestingly enough, he would always calm when my husband played it after he was born and is still mesmerized at two years old! And he loves wildly strumming my guitar. :)
I would encourage the mom to experiment with various genres of music and different keys as well as different instruments. Perhaps create some kind of spreadsheet that indicated the time of day, what music was playing (ie, title of song/composer), what mom’s response was, what baby’s response was, and any other pertinent information (ex; was it instrumental, a choir, etc.) Have the mother keep track for one to two weeks and see if there are any patterns she begins to notice. Perhaps the baby is more responsive to classical music in the morning while she is getting ready for work or starts kicking when she listens to Motown when she’s preparing meals or calls at nighttime when mom is relaxing for bed if she plays Vivaldi. Encourage mom to really explore the music and the time of day and whether the baby seems calm or whether it moves a lot. I think it would be fascinating to see if once the mom found musical preferences for herself and the baby and began to use them regularly prenatally (ex, certain music in the morning while getting ready, music for exercise, music for relaxation, music for bedtime), if it may be easier to transition the baby for the structure of its day once it is born. I’m thinking this would be interesting as so many babies are backwards for wake/sleep patterns after birth due to being used to the movement that lulls them to sleep during the day when the woman is moving around and then they were used to waking up at night when the mom was still and sleeping. Almost a gentle way to use music to condition a stimulus that they had heard. So once they are born and they hear the music for resting at night, they are more inclined to nurse and then sleep. Mom could use other preferred music for the baby that she kept track of prenatally and have music for when baby is awake and active, music that helps it stay relaxed while she is getting ready, etc. It could be a beautiful, musical way for the baby and mom to bond prenatally and her to better understand its consciousness and help prepare it gently for life outside the womb. This would probably best be started in the sixth month, as that’s when Verny described as a time when the baby in utero is more conscious, mom can feel it moving more easily, and baby has hearing that is developed enough to hear the music through the uterine walls.
In the secret life of the unborn child, he writes of research studies done using loud noises near the mother testing the baby's response to the noise in hopes to determine if development of personality begins in utero. To help the mother be more aware of the consciousness of the baby in utero the mother could use different types of recorded music and note how the baby responds. An even better alternative would be to have the mother sing to the baby. It is a closer source and a more familiar sound. The mother could also use an instrument (xylophone, guitar) and see how the baby responds to the sounds and vibrations. The mother should notice if there are changes in baby’s movement.
ReplyDeleteYes great ideas Melissa. It would be interesting to use different musical sounds- instruments, singing, and instruments and see if the baby has more responses to a particular sound. She could keep a log or a journal noting baby's responses. Also Melissa, when during the pregnancy would you recommend that the mother should start with the sounds and the observations?
DeleteThe readings state the baby's hearing is developed around 16 to 17 weeks, but could possibly feel vibrations earlier. The baby could benefit from feeling the vibrations of the music earlier, and can benefit from hearing the music starting around 16 weeks. However, the observations could begin as soon as the mother can feel the baby's movements. I know everybody is different, but usually a mother would not feel the baby's movements before 16 weeks. Observations could begin after 16 weeks when baby's movements can be felt.
DeleteYes exactly- that would be a great time to begin.
DeleteResearchers have noted that babies respond to music in the womb. (Mothers have known this all along!) One way we can help mothers be more aware of a baby’s consciousness in the womb is simply to have the mother listen to music. Babies respond to music both positively and negatively. According to researchers, babies prefer to hear calmer music such as that from Vivaldi and Mozart over composers like Beethoven or music from rock bands. However, each baby is different so a mother could listen to different composers/genres to see what responses she gets. Another way we can use to music to help mothers be aware of the baby’s consciousness is to have the mother sing to the baby. Not only will the baby likely respond by moving around in the womb, but the mother is actually bonding with the baby during the process.
ReplyDeleteYes when mother is singing to the baby in utero she is actively communicating with baby and establishing the prenatal bond. Listening to music benefits both mom and baby as it can reduce stress hormones and increase relaxation.
ReplyDeleteAs Melissa stated above, once the mother begins feeling the baby move she can begin to record the babies response to different types of music. This is a great time to create A playlist of songs that are calming both for the mother and the baby, this playlist can be used throughout the pregnancy and then after baby is born as well. Sounds the baby hears in the womb can be very comforting in the outside world when the baby becomes distressed with all the changes. A Playlist of songs or a set of lullabies that the mother sings can remind the baby of when it was cozy and happy in the womb, and help calm them down.
ReplyDeleteYes I love the idea of a set of lullabies that mother sings. It would be great to record them so baby could hear them after birth during times when Mom is not available or has to return to work soon after giving birth. Joanne Lowey talks a lot about songs of kin... they could even be familiar family or popular songs sung in the lullaby style.
ReplyDeleteOne idea might be to go through a series of different types of recorded music, allowing the mother to hear it through headphones. During the listening experience, we might encourage the mother to notice any subtle changes in the behavior of the baby. This experience can draw a picture of how some fetal reactions come from awareness of emotional, conceptual and physiological changes from the mother's reaction to her environment (which at the time will be filled with music!). If these songs evoke particularly good responses and warm feelings, they can be repeated throughout gestation and used to calm an upset baby after birth.
ReplyDeleteYes I love this idea!
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ReplyDeleteFor me, as a music therapist, it is very important question especially if we want to work and “motivate” new moms to be aware of baby s, in utero, consciousness world. To be honest there is still scepticism (at least here in Serbia) about prenatal consciousness therefore, firstly we should have to inform them about the facts that unborn child is feeling, remembering, aware being and as Verny said: “ because he/she is, what happens to him / what happens to all of us - in the 9 months between conception and birth molds and shapes personality, drives and ambitions in very important ways.” Speaking about sound and music intervention I would definitely motivated them to sing to their baby, to make a song, lullaby, to sing it intentionaly and to follow reactions. To make some kind a musical diary. In that way mother can start to bond with her baby very early which will changed her own perspective and awareness during the pregnancy. Also I will suggest mother to make her own playlist for relaxation as well.
ReplyDeleteThe short answer to this question is: everything. The longer answer is as follows. We need to make many things into consideration as music therapists. The first thing I will talk about is the environment. The unborn child can sense the environment around him/her. Therefore, we need to make the environment that we are conducting our sessions in as comfortable for the mother and baby as possible. First, the mother needs to be comfortable because if she doesn't not feel comfortable, her stress, heart rate, and hormones with transfer to the baby and cause stress in the womb. The baby, in turn, also needs to be comfortable. The environment we conduct our sessions in should not have harsh lighting or loud noises because we know from the readings and research that babies shy away from both.
ReplyDeleteWhen working with prenatal infants, we need to be gentle to them and remember that we are a foreign person to them. Their lives are inside the womb, and they may become scared of others outside who are not the mother.
A third consideration is that we must be aware of the babies wake and sleep cycles and when we conduct our sessions. Since most prenatal infants are more active at night, it may be prudent, if possible, to conduct sessions at night, rather than to disturb sleep.
Musically speaking, again, we need to take into consideration the volume, the timbre, and the tempo of the music we are using. If possible, the mother should be singing to the baby, with the music therapist, as the mother's voice will be the most comforting and familiar.
The mother should play a vital role in selecting the music. Music that makes the mother comfortable will likely make the baby comfortable as well, for reasons stated above.
The mother should address the baby in a soothing way, but also be aware that the baby can hear and understand what she is saying, especially if the baby is passed the gestational period when hearing develops.
One of the things I did while pregnant was to sit with the guitar on my lap and play gentle music in front of my stomach, while fingerpicking. This often helped soothe my son, which I could tell by decrease movements and a general calm feeling washing over me. I would recommend the guitar and other instruments that create vibration be an integral part of prenatal music therapy.
Dorian Campbell
That's a really good idea to do sessions at night, when the baby is more likely to be awake! I love the consideration you place on the baby in utero, not wanting to disturb their sleep.
DeleteYes excellent observations and recommendations. I always fingerpick the guitar when working with this population. :) MD
ReplyDeleteWhen the mind is quiet the mother will become more aware, more in tune. Meditative practices such as chanting, yoga and playing the Tibetian Singing Bowl can help the mother become more aware of herself and consequently the other life within. The connection between mother and child is so intertwined and giving the mother the tools to come to a greater discovery of this connection is so important. Engagement with the child is also helpful, lullabies and singing in soothing tones, songwriting welcoming the child and expressing affection and rituals preparing the mother to welcome the incarnating spirit will all improve the connection and therefore improve the awareness of each other's consciousness. The more the mother is reminded of her child and her connection, the stronger the bond.
ReplyDeleteYes time must be spent actively and quietly listening. The communications will come. You must be patient and open your mind. I had one very significant pre-birth communication with each of my children while they were in utero. I remember each communication very distinctly and felt they were intentionally communicating with me. So amazing!
DeleteI would love to try the Tibetan singing bowl. :)
DeleteAs music therapists we can use music as a means to encourage and assist mom in bonding with baby. A strong, reciprocal, and fluid bond will help mom uncover what she already knows on some level, that baby is conscious of the world! And most of baby's world IS mom.
ReplyDeleteOn an environmental level mom should be as comfortable as possible. The music therapist could provide bolsters, different kinds of seating, tea, fruit, essential oils, and a variety of lighting to support mom. Supporting mom means that all the good neurohormones are flowing to baby and in turn supporting baby.
The music therapist should also be able to provide any kind of music (within volume limits of course) that mom feels would benefit the growing connection to her baby.
Music therapists should find out what mom likes, but also what makes her feel connected to her family (lullaby her dad sang, song her grandma loved, etc). With the right instrumentation, tempo, and volume anything can be turned into a lullaby that will soothe baby. Ideally mom will do the singing, but if she is uncomfortable the MT could sing with her, or set her up to do the singing when she is alone with baby.
Mom should be encouraged to note baby's physical responses to music within and and outside of a music therapy session. With Dr. Verny's experience in mind, we should also suggest to mom that she is able to intuit or sense baby's emotional state when movement isn't present.
I believe we need to be very careful to empower mom without creating anxiety that everything she does may have a lasting impact on baby! Her input is the most important thing to baby but we don't want to "mom blame" or "mom shame" when anything goes wrong. It's more important to empower mom to know that her love is a beautiful and powerful force to influence the rest of baby's life.
So true about Mom-blaming and shaming!
DeleteI also find a lot of people have that anxiety! That "everything I do is impacting baby so I need to be calm at all times" which only stresses them out. I think it was Mary who explained once that spikes of stress are normal and can be balanced out with calm most of the time. It's when a mom is constantly under stress that problems arise (for her and for baby in utero). I try to remember to tell that to my clients to help ease some of that anxiety/stress/guilt/shame. I don't have any kids myself, but I know a lot of moms who hold "mom guilt", so anything we can do to ease or get rid of that, I am all for!
DeleteI appreciated the part of the video where someone asks about 'what if I had a terrible pregnancy, and my child has problems as a result?' and she says the answer is love. Love heals. This can happen after birth too.
DeleteYes!
DeleteYes to all Laura. We can use music to enhance communication and deep relaxation which will promote connection between Mom and baby.But you make a very important point- we need to make sure we are not increasing anxiety in the mother because that could cause additional negative effects for Mother and baby. Pre-birth communication happens when you least expect it.... I experienced it once at the dentists office while sitting quietly and listening to music!
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ReplyDeleteWeek 2
What are ways that we can use music to help mothers be more aware of the consciousness of the developing baby in utero?
At four to five months the fetus responds to sounds and melody. Vivaldi and Mozart will assist to relax the baby where Beethoven and Brahms and forms of rock will promote kicking and moving. Mothers can take a few minutes each day to listen to soothing music which will help the child to feel more tranquil and relaxed. At 24 weeks, the child is now listening all the time with the loudest sounds being his mother’s stomach, the maternal heartbeat, and the low but audible sounds of their father. The heart beats regular rhythm provides a sense of security which stays with the child. Along with the heartbeat it also plays into our musical preference. By the 25th week the fetus will jump in rhythm to the beat of an orchestra drum.
Understanding the fetus response and preferences to music can assist the mother in being more aware of the fetus’s development. The mother can interact more with the child through different music such as Vivaldi at night to help calm and relax and Beethoven more in the day when she is excited.
I tend to stick with music of Vivaldi and Mozart as I find that many Beethoven pieces have sudden shifts or loud percussive sounds that might be startling or too stimulating for baby.
DeleteI loved everyone's responses about making playlists, mom singing lullabies (especially special ones past down through the family) using headphones to isolate the hormonal changes/impact and using instruments/vibrations.
ReplyDeleteI would add a few ideas:
-Movement to music. Have mom (and partner) experience different types of movement paired with matching music at differing levels of intensity and energy. (Stretching songs, songs for stillness and meditation, songs for dancing/higher energy, songs for rocking, songs for practicing labor positions, songs for intimacy, songs for massage, songs for the ball, songs for movement in water, and songs for different poses that relief any pain the mother may be experiencing. Have mom and partner take note of how baby reacts to each of these experiences, tune into baby's preferences and learn to synch up the music with the movement.
-Communicating with baby by narrative singing. I would encourage mother, partner, siblings and any other significant relative/friends to sing directly to baby who they are, what they are doing, where they are, describing the scene/activity/smells/taste, etc. how they feel about the baby (welcoming him/her, excitement, etc.) Basically communicating with the baby to start building the relationship right away. If people are embarrassed to sing, they could speak in a rhythmic way with more of a nursery rhyme cadence. Have mom pay attention to the child's responses.
-I think it would be awesome to create a kicking game song! It would be fun to write little piggy-back children's songs that facilitate call/response movement from the womb, just like we would with small children. It would be structured so the music happens in response to the kicking (and describes the game in the lyrics) and the baby has control of when the music starts/stops :)
-It would be cool as well to start pairing songs with daily activities. Like a CD mom listens to while cooking, sleeping, driving, walking, cleaning, eating, etc. That way baby can start to connect the activity with the music, which could help to prepare him/her for what's happening and smooth the transition into the world when he/she is born. Again, have mom notice the responses/reactions.
-Always take into account culture. It would be good to use music in the mother's native language or music that has cultural significance. Try world music or different styles and see what makes mom/baby feel the most connected.
-Trying humming and toning with mom or partner (with partner's mouth closer to belly) you could experiment to see baby's favorite pitches/keys and also use it as a relaxation tool. This could be replicated during labor, and finding songs in mom's/baby's favorite keys could support the singing/toning to release the sensation/pressure.
One more I would add would be an Iso Principal Playlist. You could have mom create a 30 minute playlist that matches the baby's state and gradually/gently helps him/her move into another state (for example from active/alert to calm/resting or vise versa.) So the music would match one intensity and gradually move to another.
DeleteAnther possible useful tool could be using live instruments/vibrations to experiment with baby's position or seeing if baby moves closer/further from sound sources/vibrations, especially if we are hoping baby will turn/flip later on in the pregnancy.
These are some great ideas.
DeleteI love the kicking game idea! It sounds so playful, and introduces a way for the partner and/or other family members (siblings/aunts/uncles/grandparents) to be able to connect with the baby in a more concrete way.
DeleteLove some of these ideas! Especially pairing music with different movements and I would love to hear your kicking song if you wrote one!
DeleteYes Summer I love all these ideas. It would be interesting to see if baby shows a preference for certain keys in the womb! And I love the kicking game song idea! These are all such wonderful ideas. I suggest that you copy and paste these into a Google document so you can reference them and use them later. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved reading everyone's ideas!! Summer, I love the playlist ideas and the kicking game and all the movement ideas!
ReplyDeleteWe can use music in such beautiful ways to connect mothers (and fathers) to their sweet developing babies and therefore bring the parents more awareness of the consciousness and preciousness of their child. Here are a few of my ideas to add:
-Breathing exercises or relaxation with music (calm, easy-listening instrumental music) to match (and calm) mom's heart rate. We read about the beauty and security that mom's steady heartbeat brings baby. Encourage Mom to relax and also to imagine her heart beat resonating peace for her and her child together. It could also be a calm time for Mom and Dad and baby just to be together in the music, listening to each other and acknowledging the joy of being in each other's presence.
-Write a Womb Song together for an opportunity for the parents to express their love for their child and as a way to continually connect with their child outside sessions
-Sing lullabies together and encourage "snuggling" for the families. Touching their bellies and even imagining how Mom has provided a beautiful womb (warm, comfortable, safe) for their little one to peacefully rest in. As a therapist, of course, we can make our session rooms as comfortable as possible, too!
-Incorporating lyrics that validate the child's dignity and value (even though so small), and if appropriate, incorporate faith-based lyrics for meditation and gratitude (ex. Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.")
So many great ideas here! Thanks for inspiring me, ladies.
Yes i love these ideas. The words of love, dignity, value, and being valued are so important from the very beginning even before conception.
ReplyDeleteI love everyone's comments! You have some great insights and creative ideas, everyone. Expanding on Dorian's idea above, we can schedule sessions when the baby is generally in an alert state or sleep state, and use music to match that state. This goes along with Summer's iso principle playlist idea, but playing music live to transition them to whatever state is more beneficial for bonding. If the baby is in a sleep state, introducing very sedative, slow music that gradually speeds up and becomes more energetic. This can gently transition the baby to an alert state, and the period of time the baby is more active can be used by the parents to connect with their baby. They can sing, hum, and/or talk to their baby. They can also use light instrumentation or tapping on the belly to bring their baby's awareness to that area. Which book was it that said some people have made it a kicking game with their babies? This goes along with what Summer suggested above ( which I love!).
ReplyDeleteWhen the session is over, the MT and parents can start to gradually lower the energy of the music until it is sedative again, to help transition the baby back to a sleep state, if necessary. This will also help the mother end on a very relaxed note, which will wash her baby in those awesome hormones. And, ending with quiet, sedative, meditative music will also prime the mother and/or family to have some quiet reflection/communication time with their baby (like Mary mentioned). I also echo the idea of using cultural music of the family. This can help the family feel connected to their baby, if they start to share their customs and culture with the baby before they are born. As their MT, I would demonstrate and educate on all these things, and then encourage the mother and family to continue doing those things on a regular basis.
Of course, the parents can still bond and become aware of their baby's consciousness if the baby is already in a sleep state when the session begins. The live music would match the sleep state, and some guided imagery could be introduced as a way to better bond with their baby. For example, the MT could have the parents imagine their baby with questions like, "Picture your baby's toes" or "hear your baby's laugh" or "feel your baby's hiccups" or "smell your baby's hair", and encourage them to rub the baby in utero while listening to the guided imagery and music. During this exercise, I would have the parents talk to their baby, either in their mind, or aloud, encouraging them to tell the baby how they feel about the baby, how they feel about meeting the baby and learning about their personality, etc. I would encourage them to journal their experience afterward. If I included the journaling as part of the session, I would continue the sedative music to encourage the same state of mind.
So many great ideas and reflections Laura. Thank yo for sharing! That is why I keep the blog open so you can always come back and re-read the ideas of this group and previous group members. Such a great community of music therapists here! :)
ReplyDeleteI think one of the most important things we need to consider when thinking about this question is putting mom (and to an extent, baby) in charge! As therapists, we are perhaps best employed as a consultant, educator, and guide for mom as a part of what is always a very personal and individualized experience. We can provide information and suggestions about her baby’s consciousness and awareness in the womb, and help her to decide what are the best ways for her to connect with her child.
ReplyDeleteA few previous posts have mentioned movement to music. I really love this idea and agree that it would probably go a long way in helping mom to relax - physically and mentally - which in turn will hopefully have the same effect on her child, releasing those positive hormones! Thinking about the iso principle ideas suggested by Summer and Laura, I wonder if using the iso principle with both mom and baby within a movement intervention may also enhance experiences of relaxation, or help to energize and refresh mom and baby, depending on their needs in the moment.
I also think that it would be very important to try and use the mother’s preferred music, songs of kin, and music that is culturally appropriate, as mentioned by some other posters. Not only will this music encourage mom and help her feel comfortable in actively creating music for her baby, but it may also release more of those positive hormones, enhancing bonding between mom and baby. Having mom sing these songs for her baby would obviously be preferred, given the effects that we know the mother’s voice can have, how infant-directed singing can promote active listening, and the preference that infants show for infant-directed speech and singing.
Yes to all! And we also need to guide in the beginning but also be present and allow the mother discover her process and her relationship with her baby in the music.
DeleteThere are many things to take into consideration when supporting a mother and developing baby in utero. As we have discussed, a developing baby can hear, see, smell, taste and feel almost everything that the mother is experiencing. While that can be a daunting idea, as music therapists we should assist the mother to enhance and enrich prenatal bonding. Creating an environment that is comfortable, safe, and relaxing for the mother will transfer to the baby. The environment which we conduct sessions should be a calming and quiet place where the mother can be aware of the movements of the baby in utero. Music that makes the mother comfortable should in turn also make the baby in utero feel relaxed and soothed. As a music therapist we can also guide the mother to choose music that is appropriate for the unborn child. Tempo, volume, range and instrumentation greatly affect the baby. The mother should be encouraged to be aware of any movements or physical responses to the music being played during sessions. Singing lullaby’s, listening to classical music (Vivaldi and Mozart), and songwriting can assist in prenatal bonding and development. Using meditation or relaxation techniques such as singing bowls or chanting can elicit a connection between the mother and child in utero. Encouraging awareness and active listening will help strengthen the mother/child connection.
ReplyDeleteHelping the mother to relax with the music will have so many benefits for the baby as well and help develop healthy relaxation techniques that will serve her and baby well during pregnancy and after birth. :)
DeleteI love the idea of encouraging and facilitating the growth of the relationship with the baby through song. Writing lullabies together, learning lullabies from their culture together, and making a CD of those songs would be some ways to do so. There are studies that show that babies will recognize the songs they heard in utero, and their mother and father's voice will be the most special to them of all. As the music therapist, I can also encourage awareness of the fetal response to the music and movement or relaxation activities that we create in our sessions.
ReplyDeleteYes and this will also help prepare the parents for how to interact with baby in music after birth because they are already practicing.
DeleteWe could start by simply playing some different musical selections such as Vivaldi or Mozart and take note of how the baby might respond to pre-recorded music. I like the idea that was mentioned above about putting into place a record log to note what stimuli the baby is responding to and not responding to. We can try some different instruments where the baby can feel the vibration like the ukulele or guitar gently played and held up to mom's tummy to see if there is a response there. We can try some of the higher pitches as well as lower pitches and see if that elicits any type of response from the baby. We can try music with tempo that is within the heart beat range as one of the author's was talking about in their book. Also, I think just utilizing mom's voice and having her sing along to lullabies and any music that she in particular enjoys to start to create even more that familiarity that the baby knows with the mother's voice but with singing (I think this is most important to work toward after initially assessing musical response). Using music, we can really help mom and family bond with the baby while in utero and help to create those positive experiences that the readings suggest to help promote well-being, security and confidence in the baby.
ReplyDeleteYes assessing baby's response to different types of music is good but singing with parents' voices especially mother's voice is most important use of music in prenatal music bonding
Deleteloved reading everyone’s suggestions! I think taking into consideration the sleep/wake cycle mentioned above could be really beneficial for helping mums to connect and means that music can be more effectively and strategically used at certain times.
ReplyDeleteI think the creation of a womb song, although used in many other cultures for centuries, is something that can be not only very special, but extremely beneficial for both pre and post-natal bonding. If you take into consideration the concept that babies develop awareness and consciousness almost immediately after conception and recall some of the incredible stories of people remembering very specific details, what better way to let them know in utero that they are wanted and loved, then by creating their very own song? And a womb song is something that is surely going to help newborns transition to ‘earth side’ immediately after birth. Even the simple act of choosing very specific and intentional music that is played regularly during pregnancy, can be so effective in helping with calming post-birth, so making the mother aware of this is also going to offer her a deeper opportunity for connection and bonding and highlight her own power. I love one of the suggestions above that a mother could play different types of music and observe foetal responses through movement – this could really help her to focus on which songs may be best suited to her and her child and a playlist could be created. It also demonstrates to the mother the earliest signs of not only musical preference, but choice, from her child.
I also think that sharing accessible research and video resources that back up our work, is going to be really important in developing her awareness and would probably encourage the use of music during pregnancy. I just loved reading all the material about consciousness and the amazing stories and I know it would certainly change some of my behaviours if I were to have another pregnancy!
The sleep wake cycle is something that I've noticed. I'm more of a night owl than my wife so when I get to bed singing to our baby always gets a reaction from her as she tend to be awake when my wife is asleep.
DeleteYes being aware of baby's sleep and wake states can aid in finding effective times for music bonding to occur thats for sure. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat are ways that we can use music to help mothers be more aware of the consciousness of the developing baby in utero?
ReplyDeleteI must share that I was initially a bit resistant to the level of consciousness these readings have conveyed about the infant in utero. I think it will be important to first give some of these literary references to the moms to introduce the idea of prenatal consciousness.
Beyond that, we could have songs of kin (Dr. Joanne Loewy) for each family member (mom, dad, siblings if applicable). We could create a baseline by first introducing each family member to the infant. Early on they could be intentional about talking to the baby for, say, ten minutes a day. They can say common and relevant phrases such as, "Hi Baby. I am your brother, Sid. I love you", etc. After a few weeks or so, have each family member sing a specially selected song every day. It would be interesting to see, over time, how the infant reacts to the family member's voice and their songs!
Yes! What a wonderful way to include the family members in prenatal bonding. It would be great to video record the response of the baby over time. :)
ReplyDeleteOur baby's reaction to various music is quite evident at 27 weeks. She seems to moves slowly during ballads. Of interest is we went to see the new Star Wars movie and the loud sounds led to her kicking furiously.
ReplyDeleteI've also noticed more movement from her as she reacts more strongly to low notes played on my acoustic over high pitched ones.
It would be very obvious to any mother that their in utero baby reacts to different sounds, songs, & rhythmic patterns. As a music therapist, one could show the expectant mother these realities which would further the awareness of their baby's consciousness.
Yes! Sounds like she likes ballads. :) . So fun that you are taking this course while you are watching her develop. So excited for you both! MD . :)
ReplyDeleteUsing music that is pleasant to mom will release endorphins into the blood stream, letting baby know that everything is okay. Adding touch and singing along with the music, will create an intimate moment for mom and baby that will let the baby know he/she is loved and wanted.
ReplyDeleteYes it's so important. I remember those moments with each of my children when they were in the womb. So special. :)
DeleteWhat ways can we use music to help parents become aware of the consciousness of the baby?
ReplyDeleteSince many mothers and fathers to be may be unaware of the level of consciousness of the unborn child developing in utero, music is a wonderful way to communicate and "feel" the response of the baby in its movements and activity. It might be instructive to have mothers listen to music they love and see the response and then listen music they don't like and see if there is a difference in the way the baby responds. If they can sense this, then it is easy to help them understand that the mother's emotions about everything is having an effect. I also can imagine using music to quiet an active baby down so the mother can sleep better!
Yes all great ideas. You will have to try them out with your patients and let us know how it is working for them. :)
ReplyDeleteParents could become more aware of the consciousness of their babies by experimenting with different kinds of music. Perhaps listening to fast music with strong rhythms and paying attention to how active baby is compared to when they listen to calm and slow music. Perhaps once they see this difference, we can move forward with incorporating deep breathing along with that relaxing music and even tracking mom's heart rate - how she is responding to the music and therefore how baby is responding with or without movement. Being pregnant, I feel a little silly about talking to my unborn baby sometimes as a means of bonding but singing is a more comfortable place to start so I find myself singing and humming around the house more now that I'm pregnant. This might be a good "in" for other moms who feel silly talking to their stomachs to start and it's a great way to bond and get baby familiar with some tunes you can use after they are born as well!
ReplyDeleteI think that teaching and exposing parents to the concepts of prenatal consciousness helps them understand that their babies reactions to sounds, music, voices, are not just a fluke; rather, it is a conscious response to a presented stimuli. When you believe and understand that the baby is making a conscious reaction and engagement, you can begin to make more specific and thoughtful choices with what you expose baby to.
ReplyDeleteYes! When I was pregnant I played guitar a lot and my little guy would kick me (and the guitar) often. I hoped it was because he liked it! I noticed also that when my husband played the viola da gamba (a cello-like instrument) that the baby was always very calm and didn't kick. Interestingly enough, he would always calm when my husband played it after he was born and is still mesmerized at two years old! And he loves wildly strumming my guitar. :)
DeleteI would encourage the mom to experiment with various genres of music and different keys as well as different instruments. Perhaps create some kind of spreadsheet that indicated the time of day, what music was playing (ie, title of song/composer), what mom’s response was, what baby’s response was, and any other pertinent information (ex; was it instrumental, a choir, etc.) Have the mother keep track for one to two weeks and see if there are any patterns she begins to notice. Perhaps the baby is more responsive to classical music in the morning while she is getting ready for work or starts kicking when she listens to Motown when she’s preparing meals or calls at nighttime when mom is relaxing for bed if she plays Vivaldi.
ReplyDeleteEncourage mom to really explore the music and the time of day and whether the baby seems calm or whether it moves a lot. I think it would be fascinating to see if once the mom found musical preferences for herself and the baby and began to use them regularly prenatally (ex, certain music in the morning while getting ready, music for exercise, music for relaxation, music for bedtime), if it may be easier to transition the baby for the structure of its day once it is born.
I’m thinking this would be interesting as so many babies are backwards for wake/sleep patterns after birth due to being used to the movement that lulls them to sleep during the day when the woman is moving around and then they were used to waking up at night when the mom was still and sleeping. Almost a gentle way to use music to condition a stimulus that they had heard. So once they are born and they hear the music for resting at night, they are more inclined to nurse and then sleep. Mom could use other preferred music for the baby that she kept track of prenatally and have music for when baby is awake and active, music that helps it stay relaxed while she is getting ready, etc. It could be a beautiful, musical way for the baby and mom to bond prenatally and her to better understand its consciousness and help prepare it gently for life outside the womb. This would probably best be started in the sixth month, as that’s when Verny described as a time when the baby in utero is more conscious, mom can feel it moving more easily, and baby has hearing that is developed enough to hear the music through the uterine walls.