Singing during childbirth. Singing before birth

When I was asked for the fourth time in two weeks whether I was singing songs to my unborn child, I thought about it. Why does a baby who has not yet been born and is in his mother’s belly sing songs? Or maybe I’m depriving my unborn child of something important by refusing to sing during pregnancy? Why in Lately Do many schools teach singing for expectant mothers? What is this - pleasant entertainment, a way to relax or, indeed, effective method prenatal development of the child?

Let's turn to history. They say correctly: everything new is well forgotten old. As it turns out, the roots of this newfangled trend lie very deep. The therapeutic effect of music on the body has not yet been born child known since ancient times. Music is one of the arts that evokes the strongest response in the human soul. She can have a direct impact on his emotional world. Aristotle also argued that with the help of music one can influence the formation of human character in a certain way. Thus, in China, 2000 years ago, they practiced prenatal exposure to a child by singing for many hours. The Chinese believed that life begins with, and, therefore, it is necessary to raise a child immediately after conception. In Japan, pregnant women were placed in special communities located in beautiful areas, where they provided aesthetic and musical education to the mother and unborn child. In ancient times in the East, there was a belief that for the wedding, every girl should weave a carpet for herself, and during that time, the expectant mother should weave the soul of the child from the musical threads of her voice. Until recently, it was common in the Nordic countries for pregnant women to sit for long periods on the steps of their homes and sing folk and religious songs.

Scientific explanation of the influence of sound on the development of a child's brain

More than a hundred years ago, scientific morphologists drew attention to the fact that in the brain of a newborn there is a certain percentage of atrophied neurons. At the same time, it was hypothesized that these neurons were atrophied due to their lack of demand during the prenatal period. fetal development. On the other hand, there was scientific information that the number of nerve cells in the brain largely determines the level of intellectual development and mental maturity of a child.

In this regard, ideas arose in Europe and the USA about the feasibility educational process during the prenatal period of a person’s life in order to preserve and develop the largest number of brain neurons. This is how a new branch of psychology, pedagogy and medicine appeared - prenatal education.

And in 1982, Japanese scientists using a hydrophone determined that in utero the child hears everything that happens both inside the mother and around her. At the same time, all sounds are muffled, losing up to 30% of their volume. It is known that at fourteen weeks the fetus begins to react to different sound effects in different ways: it can react to the volume and rhythm of the melody, it can like it or not. Using a special ultrasound scanner, scientists examined several dozen pregnant women. During the experiment, a small piece of music was played every 15 seconds, and the device recorded increased brain activity in unborn babies. It turned out that they not only hear music, but also show their emotions: calm lyrical melodies make them “sad,” and catchy melodies make them “rejoice.”

It has been proven that sound is the strongest integrating factor that influences the entire child’s body, harmonizing it. Through the neuroendocrine system, music affects almost all systems and organs of the child: breathing rate, muscle tone, and motility of the stomach and intestines change. This is, indeed, a certain direction of human development, where very important elements are invested in it in the prenatal period. It has also been proven that babies recognize, respond more actively and prefer the music that they “heard” before birth, while in the womb. Therefore, pregnancy is not only the formation of a child, but also an amazing chance to influence the intelligence, creative and musical abilities of your baby, and stimulate his cognitive and emotional development.

By the way, about intelligence. Research by American scientists has shown that just ten minutes of listening to Mozart's piano music showed an increase in the so-called IQ by an average of 8-9 units. At the same time, in the group of people tested there were people who love Mozart’s music, and those who are completely indifferent to it. And Russian scientists I.M. Sechenov, S.P. Botkin and I.P. Pavlov established the following pattern: it turns out that with the help of music you can regulate disynchronous rhythms that appear in the brain under stress.

Modern singing techniques before birth

Since the 50s of the 20th century, music therapy centers have been created in various countries of the world, which are successfully operating to this day. All methods of musical improvement of the unborn child are aimed at teaching pregnant women the skills to communicate with the child even before his birth, at stimulating motor activity, early psycho-emotional maturation of the fetus, as well as at relieving life stresses, improving the well-being and health of the pregnant woman herself with the help of music and preparing her to childbirth.

As for domestic medicine, back in 1913 our outstanding psychoneurologist Academician V.M. Bekhterev organized a committee to study the educational and therapeutic effects of music. He believed that music has a positive effect on breathing, blood circulation, eliminates fatigue and gives physical vigor, and also repeatedly emphasized the important role of lullabies for full development small child. The most common method in our country for the musical healing of an unborn child is “Sonatal”, developed by the titled scientist, Professor M. L. Lazarev. The name sonata itself comes from two Latin words “sonance” - sounding and “natus” - born and means “music of pregnancy and birth”. Lazarev’s system, called sonal pedagogy, includes more than a thousand specially written songs, the performance of which is strictly related to the pregnant woman and the biorhythms of the fetus. First of all, this technique is aimed at developing the child’s health. Professor Lazarev's technique is a musical stimulation of the development of the fetus and newborn child. An unborn baby listens to his mother sing and undergoes his very first training in his life. The mother's voice plays the role of a tuning fork, according to which the child's worldview is adjusted. And the special musicality of all children born using this method is not even discussed - it’s just a pleasant by-effect. And you don’t have to worry that you don’t have hearing or a voice. Professor Lazarev believes that such a problem does not exist. For your listener (child), your voice is the best in the world by definition. The mother's voice, whatever it may be, will always be perceived by the fetus as wonderful vibrations of life.

What is the power of an expectant mother's singing?

• Singing will help you calm your child and calm you down after the stress of the day. Music can protect your child from evil and stress. modern world. When you go to bed, don’t sing yet born child lullaby song According to the Bulgarian psychotherapist P. Randev, such music therapy contributes to the development of a balanced, calm and friendly personality. And a lullaby will help you calm down and relieve the stress that has accumulated during the day. The effect of lullabies performed by oneself for expectant mothers turns out to be more effective than any medicine, and the sleep from the influence of lullabies is especially strong and deep.
• Regular performance of songs at certain hours will help the mother set the biological clock of the unborn child to a certain daily routine. You can develop associative thinking in your child: fast music sounds - you need to eat, slow music - you need to sleep, etc.
• With the help of singing, you can develop your child's ear for music and instill in him a love of music. To prove that a baby is capable of remembering music while still in the womb, researchers asked expectant mothers to listen to specific music for half an hour every day during pregnancy. And a year after the birth of the children, it turned out that they remembered their mothers’ favorite compositions - be it the music of Mozart, Vivaldi or compositions of pop groups - and clearly prefer them to any others.
• Singing during pregnancy is a certain way to combat intrauterine hypoxia, which leads to the birth of a physiologically immature child. Dosed motor activity of the fetus makes it possible to avoid the adverse effects of hypoxia and ensures full postnatal development. In addition, singing allows you to influence motor activity fetus, which can help improve placental blood circulation and provide conditions for the prevention of intrauterine infections.
• By singing the simplest songs, the expectant mother, unnoticed by herself, is preparing for childbirth. During singing, the functional, hormonal and psycho-emotional state of the pregnant woman improves, the sensitivity threshold in childbirth, which contributes to a more natural course of the birth process. After all, how important it is that your first journey (i.e., the advancement of the child through the birth canal) is pleasant, desirable and safe. In addition, by singing songs (if shortness of breath does not appear later), you learn to breathe correctly, which will be very useful during childbirth. If you feel short of breath after singing a song, it means you are not breathing correctly.
• In addition, singing has a relaxation and analgesic effect, activates the internal forces of the body, enhances the effect of medications, increases performance, normalizes sleep, improves the mood and well-being of the expectant mother and child.

What to listen to during pregnancy

Recently, more and more often, doctors and psychologists recommend that pregnant women not only sing, but also listen to classical music more often. Melodic structured music has the most beneficial effect on fetal development. Beethoven, Brahms - excite the fetus. Music close to alpha rhythms, such as the music of Mozart and Vivaldi, calms the fetus. In addition, by listening to the “right” music, you can minimize many unfavorable factors. Moreover, as it turned out, different music performs different healing functions. Here are the most common works actively used in music therapy:

To relieve stress and reduce anxiety:
Chopin "Mazurka, Preludes"
Strauss "Waltz"
Rubinstein "Melodies"

To reduce irritability: Bach "Cantata 2" and "Italian Concerto"
Beethoven "Moonlight Sonata", "Symphony in A minor"

For general peace and satisfaction:
Beethoven "Symphony 6", part 2
Brahms "Lullaby"
Schubert "Ave Maria"
Chopin "Nocturne in G minor"
Debussy "Light of the Moon"

To relieve symptoms of hypertension:
Bach "Concerto in D minor" for violin, "Cantata 21"
Bartok "Piano Sonata, Quartet 5"
Bruckner "Mass in A minor"
Chopin "Nocturne in D minor"

To reduce headaches associated with emotional stress:
Mozart "Don Giovanni"
Liszt "Hungarian Rhapsody"
Beethoven "Fidelio"
Khachaturian "Masquerade Suite"

To raise overall vitality, improve well-being, activity, mood:
Tchaikovsky "Sixth Symphony", 3rd movement
Beethoven "Edmond Overture"
Chopin "Prelude 1, opus 28"
Liszt "Hungarian Rhapsody" 2

For insomnia:
Sibelius "Sad Waltz"
Glitch "Melody"
Schumann "Dreams"
plays by Tchaikovsky

If your baby doesn't breastfeed well, experts recommend so-called toning programs. These are works by the same Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi, but at the tempo of allegro or allegro moderato.

Naturally, when listening to melodies, first of all, you should be guided by your own musical sympathies. Do you like violin, organ, piano or symphonic music? Or maybe you prefer church music (it’s not called spiritual for nothing)? Decide for yourself. Experiment. They say it right: what you like to the expectant mother, her child will definitely like it and vice versa.

We were just intrigued - what kind of music does Lazarev have? :) 05/17/2004 13:43:58, Lora

20.03.2004 00:28:49

19.03.2004 17:41:30

Can the 1982 data be considered current? I graduated from the Faculty of Biology, among others, we had a special course in age-related physiology. So the child in the womb does not see or hear, since his visual and auditory nerves have not yet formed. They are underdeveloped, which is why the child is born deaf and almost blind. So maybe singing is useful, but the fact that the child does not hear it is absolutely certain.

Yes, we also listened to Lazarev and even sang in one lesson... Maybe the conservatory education is pressing, but the songs seemed very disgusting. I can’t sing this to a child, although I sang a bunch of things - folklore, classics, bards, my own “improvisations”. But I agree, of course, that we need to sing and listen.

Be careful with Mr. Lazarev! When I wrote an article about him - not laudatory, as apparently expected, but not abusive either - completely neutral, Lazarev called me back and “wished” all sorts of failures for me and the child (I was seven months pregnant)... And this man works with children.

03/12/2004 11:38:47, pup

Can you be more specific about why it was so boiling, what went wrong with the child and what the results were. Since you stuttered, what’s still wrong?

03/11/2004 15:18:32, Ksenia

I want to warn mothers against the methods of the “titled” Lazarev! Listening to good classical music with your child is, of course, possible and necessary, but not the songs of the “Intonika” and “Sonatal” methods that this gentleman recommends (my child and I studied with him from six months to 1 year 3 months).
Mommies, be very careful about what you sing and let your child listen to, even if you are promised (and guaranteed!) excellent results.
Sorry - it's boiling. I tried several times to talk about this on the Internet, but for some reason the negative reviews mysteriously “disappeared” somewhere...

We are so accustomed to being surrounded by sights and sounds that we perceive even the process of childbirth as an action that requires certain accompaniment. And, of course, we are ready to carefully select this accompaniment!

However, the birth process is so saturated with bodily experiences that any desire to “brighten it up” is perceived as an attempt to “drown it out” (from the point of view of physiology and energy).

If you have chosen a home birth and want it to be natural, then It is worth relying on the concept of NATURALITY.

What could be more natural than “the music of your body”? The music that is born inside you? The music that has unique rhythm accompanying the birth of your child?

Your body already emits certain frequencies and the woman’s task during childbirth is focus on yourself as much as possible and your feelings, i.e. Tune in to your own wave.

No matter how beautiful any music is (be it natural relaxation, or a selection of classics), it has a certain vibration. This music conveys the mood and state of the composer in the process of writing it, but is not a guide for your child in earthly world. He goes with HIS RHYTHM!

And if during pregnancy or in preparation for childbirth you can calm down and relax listening to this music, then during the birth process external music will begin to disrupt your natural rhythm.

And what is the most IMPORTANT thing about NATURAL childbirth?

THE MOST IMPORTANT thing is that the process develops WITHOUT outside influence!

There is only a Woman and everything that happens inside her. This is why we pay so much attention during preparation. breathing And relaxation. It is these two physiological processes that help a woman tune in to your wave and hear the music that accompanies the birth of her child.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE of Natalia Kachanova (1st, 2nd and 3rd births)

For my first birth, I didn’t even need to worry about music selections: there is so much of it on the computer that I could easily find any most intimate or relaxing composition, and if necessary, an active and dynamic one.

And so it began! The contractions are in full swing, my husband and I went for a walk, and we can continue the process at home. I started looking for music. I put one, two, three... I went through 10-12 pieces and realized that the body reacts strangely negatively. It seems to reject melodies that I would normally call favorites.

And most importantly, I feel unwell, uneasy, and something in the body changes.

Fortunately, my sensitivity is excellent, and my reaction is fast. I gave up the idea to accompany her birth with external music, she plunged into internal experiences. And thank God! Then everything went like clockwork.

And most importantly, The rhythm in contractions is unique and special. And I started singing some of my special songs. From the outside, one could call it a shamanic chant (an old shaman sits by the fire and hums something under her breath). And this song brings me only joy in my soul and lightness in the body!

I wasn’t even going to experiment with my second birth. No additional external sounds- only the silence of the winter forest and my quiet howl between the trees.

And already while pushing in the pool I felt like an opera singer! :) Normally I would never be able to perform such arias! And at that moment, the voice came from somewhere, there was enough breath, and the power of the sound was amazing (not in volume, but in power).

What is the result? The birth is successful (both in the 1st and 2nd cases), there were no breaks and without pain (only new sensations :)). It is clear that during the 3rd birth I listened only to myself and my body.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE Natalya Solokhina (3rd birth)

My son is already 2 years old, but I still remember the music of his birth. It arose during contractions with the simultaneous swaying of the hips, in a light dance and was like the soft and gentle ringing of bells. And the stronger and longer the contractions were, the more clearly I heard the music, and it was very easy for me to join in, I sang...

And even the words were formed into quatrains in the form of nursery rhymes, rhymes and songs. I remember individual sounds that sounded long and drawn out at the peak of the fight.

And, the more the cervix opened, the brighter were my sensations that the music and sounds born by me originated precisely in the area where the head passed and, passing through my entire body, burst out through the larynx.

And the relaxation between attempts made it possible to take a deep breath and sing with renewed vigor, since during the attempts there were no more words - only singing. So she gave birth - and she remained healthy, and the baby was born naturally .

ATTENTION!

Consider pCommon MISTAKES (which disrupt the birth process - and delay it):

1. Any music from OUTSIDE

2. TV on with any program (even films about childbirth, natural landscapes, space landscapes, comedies, performances by comedians, not to mention news and regular programs - EVEN IN THE NEXT ROOM!!!)

1. Any extraneous conversations(with you or around you). The most the midwife can ask you is something about how you are feeling. However, an experienced midwife most often sees the process without your words, and certainly will not “talk” you or chat on her cell phone while you are having contractions. :)

All this disrupts the natural course of labor, threatens complications in the process, delays it, etc. In short, WHY DO YOU HAVE SUCH DIFFICULTIES?!

1. Make sure that the room where your birth will take place has as little noise as possible from modern civilization.

Don't watch TV or turn on the radio. At the beginning labor activity when everything is just beginning and the process itself starts in your body a huge amount of joy hormone is released

. And if you listen to yourself and maintain your condition, then not a single humorous program can give you so much laughter. A The desirability of a child is the key to a complacent attitude

, which exists in addition to all the films about the beauty of planet Earth - this beauty is now being born inside you! . Tune into your inner rhythm of labor with attunement Listen to her BEFORE childbirth - many times.

And in time - don’t even think about it!!! Even such a masterpiece in the process of childbirth is out of place :) . 2. After 36 weeks of pregnancy

It is better to replace all books, films and programs about pregnancy and childbirth with books and films about caring for a baby or about the relationship between spouses after the birth of a baby. This is necessary to disconnect from someone else's birth experience

and BE READY TO PURCHASE YOURS. 3. Master the practice of “PRENATAL SINGING”.

This is a very simple and effective technique and you don’t need to be able to sing or have an ear for music. — The session begins with relaxation and light self-massage

— . Using your fingertips, you need to massage the bone areas of the body that play the role of a “resonator” - the face, chest, pelvis. Direct work with voice

— : first, vocalises are sung (singing without words on vowels), allowing you to relax the jaw, then the sounds are directed to other parts of the body - they seem to “massage” the body from the inside. Different sounds “wash” different parts of your body: higher ones - the lungs, the diaphragm, lower ones - the lower parts. Actually singing

, and the songs can be completely different. Your task is to make your voice deep and velvety - and let it go.

According to the basics of yoga, the energy of our body rises from the bottom up through energy centers, or chakras, each of which is associated with sound and color.

2) navel area - sound “ou”

3) heart - sound “a-a-a”

4) throat - sound “uh”

5) center of the forehead (third eye) - sound “and-and-and”

6) crown - the sound “om”

Breathing deeply, chant the sound of the chakra as you exhale, extend this sound until the exhalation is complete, then inhale slowly and repeat the procedure several times. Start with the lower chakra in the pelvic girdle and work through all the energy centers. Finish the practice by chanting the sound “om” three times (more is possible) and sit silently for a while.

ATTENTION! During childbirth, it is better if you are more SPONTANEOUS.

Sing the sounds that come naturally. Don't think about chakras matching what you sing to the energetic vibrations is simply be in the feeling- this will help both yourself and the child.

Thanks to the “Bird” breathing exercises, you master three types of breathing for different periods of labor, and a stable breathing habit will help you hear the music of your body throughout the entire birth process. ()

Here is just one REVIEW out of many (from Inna from Moscow):

Thank you very much for the “BAMBOO” gymnastics for pregnant women, which you sent me and for the breathing exercises! I admit, I didn’t study every day. Work, renovation, moving... so one day I did “BAMBOO”, another day I did “BIRD”, on the subway I did “KEYS”, and there were days when I took a break from everything :) .

We gave birth in a maternity hospital with a personal midwife, in a room equipped for natural childbirth (large bathtub, birthing chair, etc., although there were no ropes :).

We drove to the maternity hospital in a great mood, joked, laughed... Everything went well, without interference. Dad cut the umbilical cord after it stopped pulsating. We immediately put our daughter to the breast, and since then we have not parted with her.

I didn’t experience hellish pain and didn’t even think about asking for anesthesia. For some reason, a phrase from gymnastics sounded in my head, which was very helpful: “I’m learning to distinguish sensations from pain”... and I followed these sensations, these “sensations”, observed, lived...

The efforts are sometimes even pleasant, they are like an independent force. Breathing skills also helped a lot: at a minimum, the lungs are well developed to draw in more air, and at a maximum, there is an understanding of how to work with breathing patterns (and where they are located :)).

“Modern people have forgotten how to scream,” says Dmitry Fokin, a former member of the Pokrovsky ensemble, the author of a method of working with voices for pregnant women. Urban conditions with the characteristic cramped apartments, offices, overcrowding, crowding forced us to switch to a whisper. From childhood, those around us are primarily parents under pressure public opinion- they inspire us that talking loudly is indecent, and shouting is outrageous. So, gradually, day after day, we are deprived of our own open free sound, given to everyone by nature.

“In my classes, I offer pregnant women and their husbands a simple exercise: imagine that your friend is walking on the other side of the street, call out to him. For most, such a simple task is difficult to accomplish,” says Dmitry. Some people can't scream at all. Someone tries - and it becomes obvious to everyone that he cannot be heard even on this side. But villagers communicate across a potato field without experiencing the slightest tension.

Townspeople communicate with their throats. The body remains indifferent. To produce a louder voice, they tense their throat even more. The sound is hoarse, without overtones, and there is tension throughout the body. And in the village they say “with a reference sound.” He “leans” on the diaphragm, the whole body resonates, and as a result the voice sounds beautiful, powerful, and convincing. At the same time, the throat and facial muscles are as relaxed as possible. Now this voice is called folklore, although before in the village no one knew in what voice to sing and in what voice to quarrel with a neighbor.

Why did pregnant women need this very “reference sound”?
The first task when preparing a pregnant woman for childbirth is to regain lost contact with her body. During childbirth, a woman will have to shed all her masks, reject social attitudes, behavioral stereotypes and trust only her nature. Finding your natural voice is the first step in this direction. To go beyond the established framework, to return to your body the right to a broad, free gesture, a loud, confident voice - means to gain inner liberation.

Those who have found their “reference sound” say that they are perceived differently at work, and that they achieve their goals more easily. They found their voice - they were heard. If a pregnant woman found her voice, she heard herself. She got to know her own body better. It will be easier for her to communicate with herself during childbirth.

After all, childbirth should not be experienced, but LIVED. Dmitry offers to sing the contractions. Strictly speaking, a woman during contractions does not sing songs, but makes a sound, but exactly the kind we were talking about, formed in the solar plexus area, supported by the diaphragm.

Pain gives tension, tension causes even more severe pain. Sound, as an oscillatory process, allows you to transform pain signals. The “reference sound,” unlike a chaotic scream, does not constrain the body, but relaxes it. A woman who has heard her “reference sound” at least once before can easily find it during childbirth. And then he leads her himself. An experienced midwife can even tell by the sound of her voice at what stage of cervical dilatation the woman is now. Because from fight to fight the voice itself transforms from chamber to more sonorous and impressive, but never breaks into a scream. Because a woman who has felt her voice does not need to scream. Screaming is born of fear and creates fear and helplessness. “Reference sound” is always strong, confident, with it you feel protected.

It is possible and necessary to sound together together. That's why Dmitry Fokin has special paired classes where husband and wife learn to sound together. Quite quickly they find a common sound space and then feed each other with sound. This is easier for people with good hearing. Dmitry often says in classes: “Don’t forget the baby in your stomach, take him into your sound space.” And then it’s already - family celebration, harmony in which, without words or unnecessary actions, all family members express and feel complete trust in each other, support and, finally, love.

Voice is also the real help that dad can provide during childbirth. It’s easier and more pleasant to sound together, especially if the couple managed to “sing together” before giving birth. It happens that a woman loses her sound during childbirth, but as soon as dad starts, she literally “grabs” onto dad’s voice and doesn’t let go until the end. He leads her, guides her, gives her support and confidence.

Anyone can learn this. For 10 years there has not yet been a single person who did not sooner or later discover the “reference sound” within himself. The more tense and complex a person is, the more difficult it is for him. But he will definitely achieve results: not through exercises, but through folk songs. They are a mandatory part of the program.

The voice is used during childbirth only during contractions. He does not speed them up, does not strengthen them - he makes them exactly what they should be, no more, no less. The voice helps to maintain strength during contractions, not to become exhausted ahead of time, not to waste money on fighting pain, but to merge with it, make it an ally, even make it work for you. Trying is a different task. There's no need for a voice. This is the time to work, the time to put out all the strength saved in fights. Anyone who sings the contractions competently and with feeling works effectively with pushing. The more fruitful the attempts, the more successful the birth is for both mother and baby.

By the way, kids, prepared by such mother’s singing, themselves take more Active participation in childbirth. After all, this is also an excellent breathing exercise. This means the baby is better supplied with oxygen. Many mothers claim that the same “reference sound” for their newborn babies is the best soothing remedy. They remember him from that intrauterine life. And with its power, fullness, depth, it reminds them of 9 months of heavenly serenity and absolute peace.

about how to use pain correctly

Irina Kleshchina

Women preparing for childbirth mostly hear that you shouldn’t scream during contractions - it takes away your breath, takes away your strength, scares you, and doctors don’t like it. As a result, they try, as much as possible, to endure any pain stoically, without uttering a groan. In the meantime, using the voice can be a powerful tool to relieve pain and speed up opening. And, conversely, the desire to control sound disrupts the natural course of labor and prevents the dilation of the cervix. So why is there such confusion on this issue?

As with many other problems, the point here is that women have forgotten how to give birth, have stopped listening to their body and following its needs. In ancient times, the possibilities of using the voice were known to everyone. There is evidence that Egyptian women sang psalms during childbirth, and Plato mentions that midwives of that time had special songs in their arsenal that they used when working with women in labor. And even in our time, those few who manage to completely immerse themselves in the process, forget fears and embarrassment, abandon any attempts at control, cannot give birth in silence - at a certain stage they begin to “sound” - moan, howl, hum, growl, emit low guttural roar. Experienced midwives can judge by the sounds made by a woman in labor what stage she is at, how she feels, what is the condition of the birth canal and whether the baby is moving.

Let's try to explain why these sounds are needed and how they help.

◊ The “sound” is liberating. In ordinary life, we are used to controlling our voice, suppressing the desire to scream, making sharp and loud sounds, creating tension and pockets of tension. Childbirth is a natural process, for it to go naturally, you need to give up such control, and first of all, give yourself permission to use any sounds. In this case, the reverse chain can work: by starting to sing or “hum,” you will relax the body, because while singing a person always feels more relaxed and free.

◊ “Sound” promotes disclosure. The cervix is ​​controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system, in a similar way to the endings of this type predominate in the area of ​​the face, neck and vocal cords. Doctors say that the reactions of these areas are connected - if a woman tenses her face and compresses her lips, then the cervix also spasms. Grantley Dick-Read also wrote that the most important and difficult thing in the relaxation technique is learning to relieve tension from the muscles of the face. Voice - humming or free singing allows you to cope with this task.

◊ Singing has a beneficial effect on all organs. When singing, sound waves are created, and most of them are absorbed by the body of the person who reproduces them. Back in 1960, singer Marie-Louise Oscher stated that the voice can be used in therapy: as a result of singing, vibrations are created that affect various organs and also have a psychological effect. You can read about the experience of using such sound therapy in Michel Auden’s book “Revived Childbirth”. A follower of this technique, midwife Chantal Verdier, found that singing helps pregnant women cope with toxicosis, relieve the tone of the uterus, establish a connection with the baby, and during childbirth, relax the transverse muscles of the uterus and facilitate the dilation of the cervix. Singing exercises train breathing, which is necessary to provide the body (both mother's and child's) with oxygen; such skills will be useful during childbirth, when measured, relaxed breathing is especially important.

◊ The low sounds and vibrations that occur when singing affect the pelvic bones and pelvic floor muscles, helping to prepare for childbirth and facilitating the movement of the baby through the birth canal.

◊ Singing or long sounds make breathing deep, as it should be during childbirth. It is usually recommended to try to carry out the contraction while exhaling - if you exhale with sound, it will be much easier, even when the contractions become long.

◊ Singing promotes the production of endorphins, which have pain-relieving properties.

The only sounds that do not help, but hinder, are a high-pitched scream that turns into a squeal. This is evidence of panic, that the woman is not in a special state of altered consciousness and is not listening to her body. Sometimes, in order to calm down, it is recommended to specifically start making a low hum and breathe deeply - the “relaxation - deep breathing” connection is triggered. If we are talking about the second stage of labor (pushing), then the low sounds made by the woman in labor are evidence of the work of the diaphragm, while a high-pitched cry does not make it possible to push well.

If you have limited yourself in the freedom of sounds all your life, then during childbirth it can be difficult to readjust and relax, so it is better to train your “sounding” in advance:

◊ It’s good if you have studied vocals and can restore your skills, or are ready to take up this business as a beginner (you don’t need to have any inclinations for this, the goal is to learn proper breathing and use of the voice).

◊ You can try different sounds: humming, low singing “A” and others. At the same time, listen to your body - how it responds, different sounds, what relaxes it, and what tones it.

◊ If you feel tension that cannot be removed by singing, you can resort to facial massage, which eliminates tension, and try “sounding” after the session.

Observations show that pregnant women who practice singing are more balanced and emotionally stable, suffer less from mood swings, and through singing they establish a connection with the child. Thus, such classes can be useful not only for future births.

A video that mentions the sound and gives an example of a generic song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-z-wu3yvxo

If you are interested in the practical side of the issue and you live in the Samara region, you can conduct the training “Sound Revealing”

Your own voice and vocalization technique will help you relax and make it easier to endure childbirth.

This technique was recommended to women in labor by midwives. Not knowing about the exact technique of the influence of voice accompaniment of childbirth on the body of the woman giving birth, they advised not to scream, but to sing or pray. In Rus' there was a belief that pregnant women and women in labor should not talk much at all. The vow of silence during childbirth was especially carefully required. But voice accompaniment of childbirth in the form of recitatives, songs or prayers was welcomed.

No noise and dust
Well known scientific facts about how screaming affects the woman in labor and the birth process. At the same time, women are still allowed to vote, but screaming (strongly, strainedly) is strongly discouraged. And that's why.
Childbirth is a fairly energy-intensive process that requires considerable strength from a woman. As well as a strong cry. Don't waste precious energy into the air. It is vital for your child - you have to help him move along the birth canal during pushing.
In addition, when you scream with all your might, additional tension is created in the abdominal cavity, as well as in the pelvic muscles, which only increases the pain from contractions.
If you continue to cry during the actual birth of your baby, it may make it difficult for you to concentrate and listen to the midwife's instructions, which are aimed at ending the labor as quickly as possible and ensuring its safety for you and the baby.
At the same time, doctors often recommend that women whine, groan, or even howl. And all because they know: voice accompaniment of contractions brings relief.

They say that first-time mothers are afraid of labor pain because they are not yet familiar with it, and those who give birth again - because they know about it first-hand. The desire to avoid unpleasant sensations pushes women to take a variety of medicinal pain-relieving procedures, including cesarean section. But few people know that the ability to give birth is easily inherent in every woman. You need to use it!

Sing, mommy, sing!
The slight analgesic effect of voice accompaniment of childbirth is ensured by relaxing the muscles involved in sound production (as with a sonorous exhalation, and not with a strong cry). This, in turn, leads to relaxation of the body, which helps relax the birth canal.
During childbirth, emancipation and the opening of consciousness are very important, which helps the body to open, in this case the birth canal. Turning to voice exercises often helps relieve bodily tension and thereby achieve greater liberation.
With a sharp cry, the diaphragm (the membrane between the space for the lungs and the abdominal cavity) seems to hit the uterus, which can lead to a disruption in the rhythm of contractions, which in obstetrics is called discoordination of labor. But with gradual, monotonous singing, this does not happen: the sound goes into space in a sound (mechanical) continuous wave perpendicular to the tension of the uterus, weakening it and thereby reducing pain.
Fear and stress can contribute to the development of weakness of labor, which will make stimulation necessary. When using stimulants, contractions become more frequent and painful.

TUNTS
To master vocalization - generic singing - it is important to know that it must occur in tune with the work of your body. All sounds are sung as you exhale during a contraction, which is called in one breath. Simply put, you breathe with sound. To achieve maximum relaxation, use the vowel sounds “a-a-a”, “o-o-o”, “u-u-u”, “uh-uh” in any body position that is convenient for you. When singing the sound, direct it into the depths of your body. It will turn out deep, soft, vibrating. Breathing is done through the stomach, not the chest.
In the art of midwifery, it was recommended to sing not only individual vowel sounds, but also recitatives (folded in a certain way short songs- a fragment of melodious speech from a vocal musical work), as well as prayer texts, or, in Eastern practice, mantras. The latter are also one of the modern types of voice accompaniment of childbirth.

During relaxation, the birth process proceeds correctly, the oxygen deficiency that the baby experiences during contractions is reduced, hemodynamic parameters are normalized and emotional condition women. With the correct course of the birth process (and this depends 80% on the woman herself!), the likelihood of complications, including birth injuries, decreases

CHILDREN SHOULD BE LOVE
From a psychological point of view, strong, loud screams indicate a woman’s negative attitude towards the pain of labor, and fear, stress and rejection of the natural processes occurring in the body during childbirth cause even more tension and thereby further intensify the pain. Soft, but powerful, low sounds coming from the depths of the body relax the maxillofacial muscles and the muscles of the larynx.
These sounds, emitted spontaneously by a woman during childbirth, indicate concentration on the processes occurring inside, on entering the flow of sensations, accepting them, and contribute to a successful delivery. They can alleviate discomfort and relieve pain from contractions.

SAY: "OM!"
To perform this birth mantra correctly, sit on the edge of a chair with your legs wide apart. It is better to rest your hands on your knees, slightly tilting your relaxed body forward.
After an intense inhalation - “oh-oh-oh!” followed by a long slow exhalation with a low deep chest sound - “mm-mm”, even with a slight hoarseness. Make sure that the sound is concentrated not in the nasal sinuses, but behind the sternum. In this case, a characteristic small vibration occurs in the trachea. And as you exhale smoothly and calmly, your body relaxes and calms down. You get the feeling that your whole body is breathing and singing, every centimeter of it.
When you feel that the exhalation has ended, calmly repeat the inhalation - “oh-oh-oh!” and following it is a long, unhindered, calm, gentle exhalation with a quiet lowing free chest sound - “mm-mm!”

“… BETTER IN CHORUS!”
In some countries, there are “singing” maternity hospitals, where choral singing of expectant mothers and fathers is practiced. Music and singing provide psychological and muscular relaxation, which leads to normalization of the processes of inhibition and excitation in the brain, and is reflected on the electroencephalogram as the appearance of a stable alpha rhythm, characteristic of a state of rest and internal harmony.

"Motion sickness"
After you have mastered the “om-mm-mm-mm” mantra-meditation, add monotonous body swaying back and forth to the chanting. Rhythmic movements and sounds lead to an altered state of consciousness, the so-called trance, in which the body's resources increase, which is important for a woman giving birth. During pregnancy, such movements are useful for uterine tension. The belly “sags” and the baby appears to be hanging in a hammock. When combined with abdominal breathing, the uterus quickly relaxes. Practice at any stage of pregnancy and during childbirth as a dynamic meditation.

moving the body back and forth. Rhythmic movements and sounds lead to an altered state of consciousness, the so-called trance, in which the body's resources increase, which is important for a woman giving birth. During pregnancy, such movements are useful for uterine tension. The belly “sags” and the baby appears to be hanging in a hammock. When combined with abdominal breathing, the uterus quickly relaxes. Practice at any stage of pregnancy and during childbirth as a dynamic meditation.

It is worth learning vocalization during pregnancy. They have a relaxing and calming effect. In addition, this is a way to communicate with a child who likes mother's calm songs and regular belly rubs.