Humans realized their sense of music around 55000 years ago. Our first source of music was the sounds of nature itself. Since then, music has been a transforming tool for people to feel various human emotions without actually experiencing them.
Music lifts us up, it motivates us to achieve great things, and it relieves mental stress like no other medicine. The connection between humans and music does not need any research or scientific evidence. If it has a soul, it responds to music. Period!
What is the connection between music and pregnancy?
According to a study published in the US National Library of Medicine, “playing Indian classical music for the fetus has a significant effect on its development and responsiveness”. The study reveals that playing Indian classical music, especially the Kalyani raga, for 20 minutes each day for 20 days, has improving effects on the baby’s reflexes, responsiveness, movement and mental stimulation.
Not just on the baby but the mother also derives maximum benefits from music. Pregnancy, as exciting as the news can sound, can be daunting and causes high stress levels in the expectant mother. This stress can negatively impact fetal development.
Music helps her to relieve this stress, regulates heart rate, and reduces blood pressure by lifting mood. Music shows a positive impact in regulating hormonal imbalances, nausea, and improves sleep quality in pregnant women.
Recognizing the connection between music and pregnancy, music therapy is recommended in many fertility clinics and lifestyle management counselling facilities.
What kind of music should you listen to during pregnancy?
The magic of music in our lives starts in the womb itself. But it depends on the type of music you listen to. Prefer Indian classical music, breezy and gentle sounds like lullabies, happy melodies, and pleasing music that is designed to be soothing and relaxing.
Listening to soulful and soothing music strengthens the prenatal bonding between the baby and the mother. This is medically known as prenatal music stimulation which is essential in the development of the fetus. The benefits of listening to soothing music are alike for both the mother and the baby.
The impact of good music is unmeasurable on our lives. Continue reading the blog to understand its impact on the fetus and its various developmental stages in the womb.
What is the impact of music on fetal development?
The womb is usually a quiet place, only allowing the sounds between 50-60 decibels. The fetus starts developing ears in the 3rd week of the gestation. Doctors used to believe that actual hearing starts only after week 24 but the recent developments are showing that the fetus reacts to sounds as early as week 16.
From the third trimester, the baby can recognize the mother’s voice and will be able to remember word patterns, especially the words that rhyme. The same way they react to soft and classical music that has repetitive rhythm and rhyming words.
Most important contribution of music to a baby's development comes in the form of early brain development. Good music facilitates healthy neuron connection in the early stages. Continued music stimulations help the brain by assisting in the growth of its critical structures.
What is the famous ‘Mozart’ effect on pregnancy?
Various factors contribute to make your offspring smarter than you. Even though there is very little evidence that music actually makes children brighter, it will definitely improve their IQ according to the famous psychologist Frances Rauscher.
Frances attributes it to the legendary works of musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The children who listened to Mozart as fetus have shown a significant jump in their IQ levels than what was expected of them.
How to listen to music as a pregnant woman?
Now you know the kind of impact music has on pregnant women. You have listed down your classical songs and are ready to play them for your baby. But how exactly you should play music for a fetus for the maximized positive impact.
● Listen to music for yourself: Remember that even though music has a positive impact on your baby’s development, it is limited. Listen to music only when you feel like listening to it. Do not listen with the intention that it improves your baby’s growth.
● Don’t play it too much: The discovery of music’s impact on your baby does not mean you can go overboard. Listen to it only for a limited period in a day. Mornings and evenings and the time before you sleep would be perfect.
● Don’t play it too loud: Even great music can become just noise for your baby if you play it too loud. Keep the volume levels just around the conversational tone.
● Sing along: Your baby loves to listen to your voice, especially when you sing along. If you are in the mood for it, dance a little too.
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