The use of music to help us relax is well known. This relaxation technique may be taught to the baby in the womb, especially in the last trimester when the baby’s hearing is fully developed. After the baby is born, this association between music and relaxation can be used to encourage healthy sleeping patterns, every parent’s dream.

Whenever the mother feels a sense of relaxation, for example, when: just prior to going to sleep, having a rest, or listening to relaxing music; the mother is releasing endorphins (natural chemical relaxants) into her blood stream, which then travel through the blood to the baby in the womb and the baby also relaxes. A relaxing piece of music will measurably lower the blood pressure and slow the breathing and this benefit for the mother will be passed onto the baby in the uterus through these endorphins in the bloodstream.

If the mother establishes a regular pattern of playing, or even better, humming or singing songs that make her relax, the baby can associate this musical signal with a feeling of peace. A regular pattern is established with the mother (and also the partner) using the same songs before resting. This pattern is then continued after birth to help the baby to sleep peacefully.
click MT Study at the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit at Royal Children's Hospital

Music therapists are specially trained to analyse music for its ability to relax the listener. However, we all have individual tastes in music and so two people may react very differently to the same piece of music – one may find it relaxing and the other annoying, for example. The music must be relaxing to the mother for this technique to have effect.

The skill of the music therapist is in exploring the musical tastes of the client, assessing favourite songs or music for the ability to relax, and then assisting the client to sing or play these songs at a decibel level that will be effective for the baby. Partners can also be involved in this process before and after birth and thus make a valuable contribution to both mother and baby.

Act now while the baby is still in the womb to maximize your chances of establishing a peaceful sleeping pattern for your new baby.

Contact us at lifeforce1@optusnet.com.au to create a personalised music therapy program for you, your partner and your baby.