Singing Can Help

Singing Can Help Reduce Postnatal Depression

Editor’s note: This article is from our Archive; The BCT Newsletter, “Parenting”, first published this piece in March 2020. We have condensed and edited this piece for the BCT blog.

Singing Can Help Reduce Postnatal Depression

Postnatal depression (PND) is conservatively estimated to affect at least one in eight mothers. Furthermore, it is not only mothers that suffer from PND. Fathers, too, are vulnerable. Being a primary carer or a partner to someone with PND brings PND risk.

There exist many forms of treatment.

Singing is one of them.

Indeed, a 2018 study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry suggested that singing can help.

The analysis revealed that mothers with PND joining singing groups demonstrated a 35% decrease in symptoms. The participants sang nursery rhymes and songs to and with their babies. The comparison included parents with PND undergoing treatment and attending non-singing social groups.

While the control groups showed improvements, their advancements were not as significant. The singing group experienced more rapid progress, especially the women suffering from moderate to severe PND.

There are many potential reasons for the difference.

Firstly, researchers have found that singing positively affects mental health. Singing reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Secondly, it enhances respiration and promotes physical movements. Also, joining a social singing group can help to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. These are usually associated with exacerbated PND along with feelings of inadequacy.

Parent and baby get immediate and long term benefits from singing.

Being cared for by a parent with PND is stressful for the baby. However, singing helps to reduce babies’ stress hormones. This is because their adrenaline levels drop more quickly went they hear a singing voice vs a speaking one.

Singing Groups in Basel include:

Mignon with the BCT – Mother and Baby Yoga Classes. They are exclusively for women, and the programs include singing songs and nursery rhymes to babies.

Kindermusik in Basel. It offers classes for babies and children under seven. The organisation can also tailor its course to suit the age of the children and the parent’s needs.

Susie Atkinson is a long time supporter of the BCT and families in and around Basel. She is a prenatal and postnatal educator passionate about birth, celebrating parenthood and being respectful to babies and parents. You can find more information here.