Music therapy in the neonatology department improves the functioning of the nervous system of premature babies. It also has a calming and stimulating effect. This emerged from the research with which Hanneke van Dokkum of the UMCG obtained her doctorate on Wednesday.
Music therapy is safe to use and both parents and nurses consider it a valuable addition to care. Moreover, it is an important step to reduce developmental problems in premature babies, says Van Dokkum.
If children are born before the 30th week of pregnancy, an important stage in brain development takes place outside the womb. Premature birth has major consequences for the neurological development of the child. Van Dokkum studied, among other things, the effect of music therapy on these newborns.
Since 2018, newborns in the UMCG can receive music therapy in the neonatology department. This is always done in consultation with parents. For example, the therapist may play the guitar, sing, or hum to the newborn. None of the children became overstimulated, and the parents and nurses present were also very satisfied. Van Dokkum advocates wider use of music therapy during pregnancy and in the neonatology department.