Americans have become sophisticated consumers, thanks to the Internet and the shrinking planet. There's not much we haven't heard about and even tried. Even the idea of using music during labor is not really that radical. Probably 50 percent of women who read this will say, "Sure, my husband and I played music in the labor room." But now, research in music therapy and the field of nursing has brought new information about music therapy's broad application and long-term effects on mother and baby.

Toward the end of the first trimester, the ear is developed enough that the fetus becomes aware of his mother's heartbeat and circulation. Early in the second trimester, the developing fetus can hear and discern his mother's voice and differentiate it from another human voice. It is at this point, when (hopefully) morning sickness is subsiding, that music can begin to be introduced in a meaningful way.

Making beautiful music

The mother does not have to be particularly "musical" or have a beautiful or even pretty voice. Every mother's voice is beautiful and comforting to developing infants, simply because it's their mother. The theory is if women would begin to set aside 15 to 20 minutes each evening in the latter part of the first trimester of pregnancy, lie down on the bed or couch and, (preferably with the father present) begin to hum or softly sing five or six pre-selected songs to the baby, the calming and soothing effect on the mother will transfer to the baby. And, if sung nightly throughout the pregnancy, those songs will prove to be exceptionally comforting and soothing to the baby during the first year or more of life.

This isn't much of a stretch or a leap, knowing baby can already hear a mother's voice and mother's moods and feelings also affect the fetus. Why not use some of this knowledge to come up with a positive parenting tool for baby's first year?

A growing concept

Music therapy studies conducted in a Florida hospital proved conclusively that preemies in a neonatal ICU gained weight faster and were released up to five days earlier when their mothers sang to them and recorded songs to be played to them around the clock. This is why starting the process early in pregnancy is so important.

But again, the biggest hurdle is convincing mothers their babies are not going to judge or be critical of their singing. At what age do musical capabilities appear? Perhaps at birth or even soon after the functional development of the auditory system in utero.

A report in the Irish Journal of Psychology discussed Peter G. Hepper's study of newborns two to four days of age who had been exposed to the theme tune of a popular television program while their mothers were pregnant. When the same tune was presented after birth, the newborns exhibited changes in heart rate and movements. More remarkably, fetuses of 29-37 weeks gestational age also showed specific behavioral responses to tunes played earlier in pregnancy. In both experiments, behavioral responses were specific to the tune to which they had been exposed. These results would seem to indicate that the learning and memory of a melody can occur not only before birth but actually before or at the beginning of the third trimester.

Setting the stage

Keep in mind the primary purpose of using music during pregnancy and in childbirth is to facilitate a serene pregnancy and pleasant birthing experience. Having a calming and quieting tool after birth is also an important benefit. Developing musical talent would be icing on the cake, but not a primary reason to do it.

If by some chance the baby is born prematurely, then you have a ready-made tool to get that baby gaining weight and thriving. Tapes and CDs of lullabies and soothing songs for babies and children are out there in ready supply.

Visit your local book or music store now to get those wheels turning. If you or a friend or relative is pregnant, that would be an ideal gift for the mother-to-be. Begin talking now to parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives about songs that have been meaningful in your family. Folk songs such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Baa-Baa Black Sheep" are good, but so are the Disney tunes and Sesame Street songs.

The important thing is that the songs or tunes be calming and comforting. Once babies are born, they'll have a lifetime to learn the fast, zippy songs, and they will.