Principal Investigador Eduarda Carvalho (FNL, CESEM)
Co-investigador: Filipa M.B. Lã (Facultad de Educación, Laboratorio de Voz, Música y Lenguaje, UNED)
Abstract
Maternal singing has its origins as an ancestral practice with adaptive and protective value for the family offspring. Singing to the baby from its intrauterine development has been identified in the literature as an experience that promotes the development of the mother’s emotional bond with the baby. However, the processes by which maternal singing and vocal quality may contribute to the development of the perinatal bond are still unknown. It is also unknown whether prenatal singing impacts foetal and newborn behaviour. The main aim of this exploratory study was to promote women’s health and well-being during pregnancy, as well as perinatal bonding by proposing a group experience mediated by pre-natal singing. This project intended to strengthen innovation in the health and the community sector, as a response to the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) reported as a 2030’s target.
Implementation period
2023-2025
Acronim
SingingWomb
Reference
2022.01750.PTDC
Total funding
48.693,90 €
Funding institution
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), I.P.
Start funding date
01/01/2023
End funding date
31/01/2025
Keywords
Pregnancy; Well-being; Perinatal Bond; Prenatal Singing
Methodology
While listening to music during pregnancy has been associated with a better neonatal neuronal maturation, but still being unknown the contributions of prenatal singing to neonatal behaviour, as well as not being understood the contributions of the acoustic propagation of the maternal humming inside the womb on foetal and neonatal neuronal maturation, a set of 22 low obstetric risk pregnant women were sequentially allocated into three groups: 1) vocal training group (VTG), with specifically designed exercises to develop the phono-respiratory coordination and the vocal resonances propagated subglottically, or, in other words, by the vibrations of the maternal body tissues closer to the foetus; 2) music therapy group (MTG), having the foetus as the focus of singing; and 3) control group (CG) without any prenatal singing. A multidisciplinary analysis was made by applying the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS), and a protocol session to collect and record accelerometric (ACC), audio (close range and at 30 cm), cardiotocographic (CTG), electrodermic (EDA) and electrolaryngographic (ELG) data at 32 and 37 gestational weeks (GW). The session’s protocol consisted of performing a set of varied tasks: reading a tale, humming, vocal toning, singing a lullaby and free communication with the foetus. During the period between the 32 and the 37 GW it was performed a bi-daily collection of saliva to register the cortisol levels, as well as, to the VTG participants, a daily set of exercises specifically designed for them to perform autonomously.
During this same period there was also a group session per week for each of the groups 1 and 2. One or two weeks after birth the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) and Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS) were applied.
“Saúde da mulher, bem-estar na gravidez e vínculo perinatal: contributos do canto pré-natal (SingingWomb)”
(2022.01750.PTDC) foi financiado pela FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC)
