Lullabies for Animals??

The saga continues with the two stranded whales being led back to their home in the ocean. These creatures somehow got into a shipping lane in San Francisco Bay and have been hurt because of bumping into ships and boats. Scientists have tried playing recordings of whales feeding, mating, and even lullabies that they sing to their young. So far, no luck, but the work continues!

There is a theory that when babies are played music or sung to with the same melodies or tunes over and over, they become conditioned to feeling love and nurturance when they hear this music. All humans and probably most animals need to sing to their young and create this powerful association between sound and music with love, caring and nurturance!

Music in the NICU

When I was in NYC last week speaking to a hospital OB/GYN Grand Rounds, there was some discussion of the various ways music can be used in the NICU. Much of the research that has benn done in this area comes from FSU in Tallahassee and it appears that individual speakers or music delivery into each isolette is the norm. The smaller and frailer the infant, the more sensitive their ears are apt to be so the volume level and type of music must be chosen on an individual basis and then the staff must observe the infant's immediate and long-term reaction very carefully for any sign of discomfort or pain. That's the last thing we want to subject our tiniest patients to.

We also talked about the musical pacifier that plays ten seconds of a lullaby when the least amount of pressure is exerted on the nipple. This motivates the infant to suck more and harder, thus enabling them to suck better and gain weight faster. Very ingenious!

Generally speaking, lullabies or the mother softly singing is best. Stay tuned for my new ebook on "Music with Preemies" which should be coming out in the next few weeks! Have a great week-end!

Dr. Cash Speaks to OB-GYN Staff in NYC

Today I had the great pleasure of speaking at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. The staff there was warm and welcoming to me and received the information on music with pregnancy, preemies and newborns enthusiastically! My topic was "The Importance of Music with Pregnancy, Preemies, and Newborns." The residents, nurses, doctors, and guests asked great questions and shared personal stories that greatly enhanced the hour. I talked a little more than I expected to about the work of Jayne Standley and her musical pacifier which plays music when a preemie sucks on it, thus reinforcing the baby's desire to suck and resulting in faster weight gain and faster discharge from the NICU.

I'll write more about this in the days to come. Please feel free to write in your questions!

The Best-laid Plans

If you read last night's post, you know that I am going to NYC today to give a presentation on music with pregnancy, preemies and newborns on Thursday. I was supposed to almost be there by now but I got a phone call early this morning saying that my flight was delayed! I will have been in the Louisville airport for over three hours by the time I get on the plane. I sure would rather have spent those three hours in bed!!

But, of course I have my work with me and so have done a little but mostly just enjoyed people-watching and sipping on Starbucks skinny latte.

While at the hospital where I'm speaking o Thursday, I'm hoping to see their NICU and talk to them about how they use music with their tiny babes. I know they are using lullabies with circumcisions. Any questions you'd like me to ask?

Alice

Off to NYC to reveal music with infants techniques

Just wanted to let you know one last time before I leave for a speaking engagement in NYC that while I am there I will have a few slots still available for consultations or meetings. I'll be speaking at Grand Rounds at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn on Thursday morning, April 5th at 9:00 a.m.
I know that I have quite a few readers in New York City so please don't hesitate to call me at 502-419-1698 if you'd like to meet!
On Tuesday night, April 3rd, I'll be attending an orchestra concert in Carnegie Hall. My sister, Catherine Hudnall will be conducting the Norcross High School Orchestra and many of us will be attending this wonderful concert!
My presentation at Lutheran Hospital is entitled "The Importance of Music with Pregnancy, Preemies, and Newborns." It is a review of studies in all of these areas over the last decade as well as my recommendations for the pregnant woman, obstetricians and pediatricians. If you have any interest in this topic, contact me immediately so that I can put you on my 2007-2008 calendar.
The "Lullabies for Mother-Baby Bonding" CD is still a top seller and I'm planning to start offering bulk discounts for hospitals, nurseries, and large families!
Thanks for being a faithful reader!

Did you use music with your pregnancy?

Calling all women who used music during pregnancy and/or with childbirth! Next week I'll be giving a presentation in New York City on the importance of music during pregnancy and with preemies and newborns. I've done so much research on the topic that I decided to put together an ebook that I could offer to all women considering pregnancy or currently pregnancy. It turns out that music really does make a dramatic difference in the health of baby and mother and is so easy to implement.

Of course you know that my number one suggestion is always having the mother sing lullabies in her own natural voice. Despite the protests of some mothers that their voices are not "good enough," all of the research and anecdotal reports say that mother's voice is the one that all babies love best. If you think about it, that's the voice they've heard throughout their growth and devleopment and it's the one they most want to hear once they're born. BUT, any live voice is best. CDs and videos are good for mother to learn lullabies and songs to sing but the ideal is for mother to sing.

If you live in the NYC area and would like to have a consultation or a short talk to your group, please contact me through my website, http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/. I'll be there April 2-5. Also, please send me any of your own personal stories about your use of music with pregnancy or childbirth! Hope to see YOU soon!

Can Babies Remember Music Heard in the Womb?

With all the talk today about playing music for your baby during pregnancy, a logical follow-up question that I hear all the time is: can the baby remember the music heard in the womb? The good news is "yes!". Researchers in London have put tiny cameras in the womb and measured the amount of time that the baby turns her head toward the music. With each subsequent playing of the same song, the baby "pays attention" a little longer and after birth, the baby responds by quieting down when fussy and also showing signs of recognition. For more information, go to http://www.le.ac.uk/psychology/aml11/aml11.html. For a beautiful album of familiar lullabies, go to http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/products/lullabies/lullabies.html