Maatrcare

INTRODUCTION

Music Therapy is a relatively young field that was organized during the 1950s in the
United States of America. It belongs to the behavioral sciences and therefore is based on a
scientific approach. Its primary goal is to help clients use the expressive experiences of music to
improve or enhance their level of physical, psychological and socio-emotional functioning. Most
frequently, a music therapist works within an interdisciplinary team. It is our hope that this will
also be realized within the birthing scenario of the future, so that the music therapist will interact
directly with the obstetrician, the nurse, the midwife (dai-maa), the neonatologist
(Neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics that consists of the medical care of newborn
infants, especially the ill or premature newborn) and the anesthesiologist (knowledge relating to the
field of anesthesia). Currently there are some cases in which a music therapist is working with an
obstetrician (Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum
period.). Music therapy is thus beginning to emerge as another discipline that offers assistance to
pregnant women. In general, we have found that music therapy treatment during pregnancy
guides future parents, and mothers in particular, to connect and bond with their babies in a
different way.

This bond is conscious and strengthened by using the effect of music engaged with
therapeutical activities within a group context. This kind of treatment improves the quality of
pregnancy, labor, and birth because it lowers the mother's level of anxiety as well as neonatal
stress. It also eases pain during labor contractions and birth. From the therapeutical point of
view, the future mother becomes much more involved in the three fundamental areas of her
pregnancy: physical, psychological and emotional states. The baby will be drawn to the melodies
that will be remembered in utero, and these will stimulate its neural axis. Music will also
enhance active movement of its limbs thus improving oxygen intake via a general increase of the
exchange of fluids. These movements also produce a relaxed condition in the future mother,
which enables further connection to her physical sensations produced by the baby. Music works
as an interactive neurotransmitter affecting the cellular system and the hypophysis of the fetus.
This sets a track of a variety of sensations that will be recorded by the fetus and remind him of
the pleasant experiences he lived while in utero

Music increases the unborn child’s intelligence, sound stimulation enhances the brain’s
maturation, the Mozart effect boosts creativity and cognitive skills, and in utero listening to
lullabies improves postnatal sleeping habits.
The Indian History of Prenatal education
The story of Abhimanyu is well known in the Mahabharata. Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna,
learned how to enter the Chakravyuha (the strategic arrangement of warriors to entrap and defeat
the enemy) when he was in his mother's womb. Abhimanyu had heard and remembered the
narration of the technique by Krishna to Subhadra during her pregnancy.
When Pralhad's mother was pregnant with him, she used to listen to devotional songs. Therefore,
even though Pralhad took birth in a Rakshasa family, he became a devotee of Lord Vishnu.
Mother of the great Indian freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar used to read the
courageous stories from the Ramayana and Maharana Pratap to her son when he was in her
womb.

Ancient Indian medicine has recognized the need for the mental, spiritual and physical
preparation of the mother-to-be for the momentous event of childbirth. Ayurveda describes this
theory as "Supraja janan" or eu-maternity This "Supraja janan", as conceptualised in Ayurveda,
involves the preparation of the couple planning pregnancy, three months prior to conception.
Pregnancy should be by choice, and not by chance. If the couple is not in a state of mental
stability and calmness, even if they are physically fit, they cannot give birth to a healthy child.
This mental calmness and stability ("Sathwa Guna") of mind is closely related to ones food
habits and many other factors. Abstinence from spicy foods and addictive substances is advised.

It is now universally proven that the foetus is not just a mindless mass of flesh, but a highly
responsive and evolving human being, capable of receiving, understanding and responding to
external stimuli. It, therefore, follows that the foetus has a right to receive positive and enriching
feedback or garbha sanskar.

Ayurveda prescribe a particular daily practice for the pregnant woman. Along with the
prescription for diet, Yoga and routine body care, instructions are also given for reading material,
subjects of discussion, and music and mantras to be listened to.

Prenatal studies show that at the beginning of the second month of pregnancy, a foetus’
eyes, nose, and ears are clearly visible, and by the fifth month, the baby's hearing has
fully developed. This has lead to further research regarding the baby’s ability to
recognize music and the various benefits that music can have on the unborn child and
the mother.
The Effect of Music on the Fetus
Various studies conducted over the past two decades have demonstrated the ability of the fetus to
hear sound. Many studies have pointed to the change in heart rate as a positive sign that the baby
is stimulated by the music. Here is what the studies show...

by Patricia Hughes

One study published in the Music Educators Journal looked at the effect of exposure to music in
the prenatal period. Some participants were given music in the womb, either sedating or
stimulating musical selections. After the birth of the baby, the parents and infants visited the
researcher, and a range of activities and responses were observed by researchers. The study
found that exposure to music in the prenatal period seemed to be linked to increased attention,
more sound imitation and earlier vocalization in the baby.

Soothing, classical music and nature sounds are believed to be soothing, while louder types of
music may startle the baby.

Music benefits mom by helping to her to relax or lifting a low mood. That is good for the baby
because research has demonstrated that baby is affected by mom's emotions. So, choose music
that you find relaxing and not too loud. Loud music is not good, as it can startle the baby. A
general rule of thumb is to keep the music to the level that is played in stores.

Music may reduce the stress, anxiety, and depression that many pregnant women experience. A study
of 236 pregnant women in Taiwan shows that the participants who listened to music for 30 minutes
per day for two weeks significantly reduced their stress, anxiety, and depression, compared with
participants who did not. The study, conducted by researchers at the College of Nursing at Kaohsiung
Medical University, was published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Good Music Selections for Baby
The best type of music to play for baby is classical music because it tends to offer a range of
notes and tends to repeat, creating an almost lullaby style sound in utero. However, any musical
selection will work as long as the music is not harsh.

Bad Music Selections for Baby

When choosing music for baby to listen to with headphones on your belly, it is best to choose
music with a soothing harmony. Rap, heavy metal and some rock music tends to be discordant,
loud and alarming. Music in these genres may startle baby and there are some animal studies that
claim brain development is negatively altered when these types of music are played to the fetus.

The Proven Effect of Music on Development and Intelligence

Many parents choose to play classical music to baby in utero because they think it will make
baby smarter. There is no research supporting this theory, but researchers do agree that music is a
good option during pregnancy, though not necessarily for baby. If a pregnant woman loves
classical music, playing music may soothe her more than the fetus. When a pregnant woman is
more relaxed, she tends to feel less stress and that has a positive effect on the fetus.
The final word on playing music for the fetus is up in the air, but researchers and doctors agree
on a few important points:

— Never play music with headphones on your belly for more than half hour at a time.
—Keep the volume relatively low and choose music that is soothing rather than harsh and
jarring.

Music helps strengthen the bond with your unborn child:

Recent scientific research into the effects of prenatal music stimulation shows that music
provides an excellent way for the mother to bond with her unborn child. Prenatal stimulation is a
concept that uses stimuli such as sounds (either a mother’s voice or musical ones) along with
movement, pressure, vibrations, and light to communicate with a developing baby prior to birth.
While both music and singing can be used to strengthen the bond with your child, Dr. Michel
Odent, M.D., believes that women have a profound need to sing to their babies. Singing to your
unborn child is extremely beneficial since the singing voice has a richer frequency range than
speech. Frequency is the level of pitch measured in Hertz (Hz.) and varies between 16 to 20,000
Hz. A mother's voice is more clearly heard by the fetus, as there is very little distortion when
compared to other external voices, especially in the higher frequencies.
What is Prenatal Music Therapy?

Prenatal music therapy is a wellness program designed to promote prenatal bonding between
mother and baby prior to birth. It uses simple songs, relaxation, guided imagery, songwriting,
and music making with classical music and lullaby's. Mom will learn a variety of lullabies and
skills that will help her to feel more confident in her new role, including music to help calm and
relax.

For mother's who have received a prenatal diagnosis music therapy is designed to help her
process her feelings of grief and anxiety and focus on the positive things for their future. This
service can help parents to embrace their new roles and
connect with the growing child inside.

Music and Development

- 22 DAYS: The cochlea (part of the ear) begins to show.

- 4-5 MONTHS the fetus is able to respond to sound and

melody. Research shows that Vivaldi will calm even the
most agitated baby. While Beethoven will show that even
the calmest baby will begin to kick and move

- 4-6 MONTHS it is believed that the child is aware of

sound and vibration

- 6-9 MONTHS: Womb songs and lullabies can assist with

creating a bond between the mother and child.

- In utero, the child will hear their mothers voice the best because it comes from within.
 “If singing teaches the unborn child anything, findings indicate that it may be the basis of
bonding of love”.,
Dr.Thomas Verny

Testimonial

I have noticed at 22 weeks now my little guy does move a lot when I've got the radio on, whether
at home or in the car. Don't know about it making him smarter, but he definitely seems to enjoy
it. Good enough for me.
FAQ’s
Does music affect fetal development?

No one knows for sure. Some studies indicate that fetuses can hear and react to sound by moving.
But no one really knows what those movements mean because experts can't observe an unborn
baby as easily as a baby that has already been born.

Does playing music make my baby smarter?

No research supports the idea that playing music when your baby is in the womb makes her
smarter. You may have heard that exposure to music makes kids of all ages smarter in math, but
Gordon Shaw, a research pioneer in neuroscience at the University of California at Irvine, says
these studies focused on older children, not fetuses.

For example, piano lessons may enhance children's spatial reasoning skills (the ability to
understand three-dimensional space), but researchers only tested 3- and 4-year-. Some experts
surmise that if music has this profound effect on older kids, babies and even fetuses may benefit
from it the same way.

Others say newborns can recognize music their parents played for them when they were in the
womb and even perk up or fall asleep when they hear a familiar song. Some also say that fetuses
breathe in time to music they enjoy. California obstetrician Rene Van de Carr says he's observed a
33-week-old fetus pattern his breathing to the beat of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Van de Carr,
who wrote While You're Expecting...Your Own Prenatal Classroom, says because the fetus
followed the rhythm of the symphony, it's obvious he learned something about the rhythm and
enjoyed it. But other researchers such as DiPietro ask, "What reason do we have to think that
breathing in time to music is a good thing?"

How do I play music for my unborn child?

Your best option is to play music on the stereo as you go about your day. It's not a good idea to use
headphones on your belly since the music is up close and may overstimulate the baby. "People
tend to turn up the sound because they think it needs to be loud to penetrate the abdomen," say
experts like DiPietro. "But amniotic fluid is actually a good conductor of sound."

How loud is too loud?

The American Academy of Pediatrics reported in the late 1990s that several studies showed that
unborn babies exposed to loud noise over a long period of time are more likely to be born
prematurely, have lower birth weights, and suffer some higher frequency hearing loss at birth. The
studies mostly involved moms who worked in high noise areas, which is of course quite different
than going to an occasional rock concert.

Still, it's not a good idea to pump up the volume on your stereo higher than 65 decibels (dB) –
about as loud as background music at the store – because that may hurt or startle the baby. And if
 you're listening to music for prolonged periods, it's best to keep the volume below 50 dB (the
sound level in most neonatal intensive care units).

Decibel levels of common household sounds are:

 50 - 75 dB washing machine
 55 - 70 dB dishwasher
 60 - 85 dB vacuum cleaner
 60 - 95 dB hair dryer
 65 - 80 dB alarm clock
 75 - 85 dB flush toilet
 80 dB ringing telephone

Conclusion
Since most of the research on the benefits of music in pregnancy is still in its infancy, it is better
to exert caution when playing music to your unborn child. Here are a few general points that
experts recommend when using music during pregnancy.

 Music reduces pregnancy stress levels and Music helps strengthen the bond with your unborn
child

 Music may help in fetal brain development.

 Practice music therapy in moderation: Like all good things in life, music therapy too should be
practiced in moderation. Don’t listen to music just because it is good for your baby. Listen to
your feelings instead. If you feel relaxed when listening to music or singing, chances are that
your baby will feel the same too.

 Be careful about the volume you choose: A popular misconception is that a baby inside a
womb cannot hear music unless it’s turned on loud. However, sound is easily conducted via
the amniotic fluid and thus the volume chosen should be low, no higher than 70 decibels. It is
also advisable not to place headphones or a speaker directly on your abdomen.

 Avoid music that is loud, chaotic or disturbing: The choice of music played also matters. Dr
Rosalie Pratt, Professor of Music Medicine at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah points
out to certain animal studies that show how constant exposure to chaotic, discordant music
negatively alters the brain's structure. A good choice, according to Dr Pratt, would be Classical
music (especially Mozart’s symphonies), or any kind of soft, melodious music of your liking
other than rap, grunge, or hard rock songs.

 Make music and exercise a part of your pregnancy.

Why we are different?
As we know everything in this world, works on frequency. If you vibrate yourself in a particular
frequency you will gain that particular thing. That’s why old rishi munis use to discover different
chant mantras for healing of body and mind.

Eg.

174 Hz Solfeggio Frequency Music can help relieve pain

741 Hz Solfeggio Frequency to detoxifies the cells and organs.
432 Hz sacred frequency
963 Hz Solfeggio Frequency for money and wealth
182hz – 1212 hz frequency music for complete body healing

We have different music of different frequency which should be listen at a particular time zone
only. This music will create more impact at that particular time period.
Others will give you only some random music and didn’t tell you where to listen how to listen it
But we do. We will give you different music for morning and evening 20-25 min music. And
even different music for every different month.
The benefits of music is when you listen these music every day morning and evening, and when
your baby born , child will born with more balanced brain, what I means from balance is left and
right brain will be balance. And as proven balance brain are more active than others. They use 1-
2% more brain than usual brains. It makes your child more intelligent than usual.

Some reference links

https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/music-during-pregnancy/

https://www.shankarmahadevanacademy.com/blog/Benefits-of-Music-in-Pregnancy/

https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-development/how-music-affects-your-babys-brain-class

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323156580_State-
trait_anxiety_levels_during_pregnancy_and_foetal_parameters_following_intervention_with_m
usic_therapy
For my reference

http://www.spirit7healing.co.uk/sacral-chakra.html

https://ayurveda-foryou.com/ebook/ebook-women-and-babycare-ayurveda.html

https://www.babycenter.com/viewComments.htm?ccContentType=ARTICLE&ccContentId=654
7&site=preg&zone=&startIndex=0&pageSize=10
https://listeningtosmile.com/sacred-frequencies/

https://www.mindvibrations.com/432-hz-vs-528-hz/

https://meditativemind.org/benefits-of-music-based-on-7-solfeggio-frequencies/