Contributions of music therapy and of prenatal singing to maternal mental health, maternal attachment, and neonatal behavior

Background

Listening to music during pregnancy is associated with better neonatal behavior; however, contributions of prenatal singing to neonatal behavior are still unknown. Also, contributions of acoustic propagation of maternal humming inside the womb on fetal and neonatal behavior are still not understood.

Methods

Low obstetric risk pregnant women (N = 24) were sequentially allocated into three groups: 1) control group (CG) without prenatal singing; 2) music therapy group (MTG); and 3) vocal training group (VTG). Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and Antenatal Maternal Attachment Scales were applied at 32 GW and also at 37 GW. DASS, Postnatal Maternal Attachment Scales, and Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) were applied between one week and one month after birth.

Results

For MTG: prenatal attachment was improved at 37 GW; newborns range of state was higher when compared with CG newborns; lower scores of anxiety and of stress assessed at 37 GW were associated with higher neonatal autonomic regulation; after birth, lower maternal levels of depression were associated with newborns' higher social orientation. For VTG: anxiety assessed at 37 GW associated negatively with social orientation; after birth, DASS total score associated negatively with autonomic regulation.

Conclusion

MTG seems to favor prenatal attachment, and neonatal range of state. Apparently prenatal singing (present at both MTG and VTG) improves the association between maternal mental health and newborns' social and self-regulatory competencies.