A STUDY exploring the benefits of mothers singing lullabies during their pregnancy is being carried out at the University of Limerick.
The research team says many women suffer from stress and worries during pregnancy: “Medical treatment is not always suitable because of concerns that taking medication may harm the baby. For that reason, doctors and midwives are interested in finding other ways to reduce pregnancy stress, such as singing.”
The calming effect of music may be attributable to the normal tempo of music falling somewhere between 60 and 80, when measured on the metronome. The average measure is 72, which corresponds with the average adult heartbeat. There is also considerable evidence to suggest listening to music and singing benefits both mother and infant.
The Lullaby Research team at the university is a collaboration between the school of nursing and midwifery, the graduate entry medical school, the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
The study involves women recruited through the Limerick Regional Maternity antenatal education classes. Its aim is to look at the effect of different strategies in relieving stress in pregnancy.
According to Prof Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, there is a lot to be explored in the link between performing arts research and medical research. The lullabies were taught by Kathleen Turner of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and Oscar Mascarenes of the academy.
Deirdre Morrisey from Limerick, a participant in the study who recently gave birth to baby Bowker, said she remembered the lullabies when she was giving birth. “There were two birch trees swaying in the wind right outside the window and I could hear the melody, Lovely Birch in the Meadow in my head.
“This brought me to think about all the other women in the study who were giving birth and it helped me stay focused and calm. The songs have had a big effect. Bowker is now seven weeks old and my husband and I continue to use the lullabies when rocking him to sleep.”
Participants fill in a questionnaire that measures stress. They are assigned to one of two groups, and some asked to learn to sing lullabies. Six weeks after birth, the women are asked to fill in the same questionnaire to see if there are any differences in their levels of stress.
Data analysis is ongoing and the findings will be presented soon.