Embryologists tell us that by the end of the second trimester of pregnancy–around the 24th week–a fetus begins responding to the sound of the mother’s voice, the rhythms of her heartbeat and breathing, as well as sounds from the immediate environment–including, of course, the music she is listening to.
This is one good reason for expectant mothers to be mindful of what they are listening to. Remember, music affects the mother’s nervous system as well as the baby’s! We have eyelids, but no earlids to protect us.
The fact that the ear is the first of our sense organs to develop gives us much food for thought:
- Music has an enormous effect on us throughout our lives, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
- It can alter our breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and even our temperature. We are part of a vast vibrating, pulsating world, influenced by changes in the weather, the seasons, day and night.
- Every known culture uses musical sounds to communicate with the spiritual/religious world.
- At the other end of the life cycle, patients in a coma have been known to respond by arm twitches or eyelid flutters to familiar voices and songs.
- The blind depend on echolocation to help orient themselves
It all starts with our earliest awareness: the heart beat and the rhythm of breathing in utero. After birth this becomes magically transformed into the beat of a drum and the many rhythms of music–and even the subliminal messages communicated by the music of commercials.
A number of neuroscientists suggest that human language evolved from musical sounds much like the speech-songs of whales and dolphins. When you think about it, human adults seem to naturally converse with babies using “sing-song” tones. This is closely related to what is called Melodic Intonation Therapy, something vitally important for helping those with aphasia and those sustaining brain injury who want to recover the capacity to speak. A case in point is Gabrielle Giffords, member of the US House of Representatives for Arizona’s 8th Congressional district. She was the victim of an assassination attempt in January 2011.
Here is one of Bach’s most beautiful melodies (“Air” from Suite no. 3 in D major) created especially for listening during pregnancy. It is played at 66 beats per minute, slightly slower than the typical heartbeat. Take a moment to listen with your eyes closed, breathing in concert with the music. Notice the effect on you. Savor the experience.