Babies Exposed to Music Therapy in the NICU Discharge Home Earlier

Before my son was discharged home, one week after being admitted to the NICU (the day after he was born he was diagnosed with infant pneumonia-Doctors speculated that he ingested some amniotic fluid during birth) we had a final consult with the neonatologist, which was quite pleasing to us. Not only did the doctor state that Benton was doing well and that she had no reason to believe that he would do anything, but thrive post-discharge; BUT she also made very positive and complimentary statements regarding me coming in to the NICU every night to play music for my son, the other patients, and the staff and parents present (music therapy is holistic and designed for all). The Doctor stated that word had spread quickly among staff members regarding the music and that she is an advocate for music therapy being used in many medical settings. Most importantly, she stated that she had read research that babies exposed to music in the NICU on average discharged something like 5 to ten days sooner. In fact, studies show even higher numbers than that. A recent article posted by Trident Health states: "Premature girls are discharged an average of 9.4 days sooner when exposed to music therapy with singing, according to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Neonatal Nursing. Add guitar and girls go home an average of 21 days sooner than they would without music therapy. Boys, on the other hand, seem to prefer just singing, which leads them to leave the hospital an average of 16 days earlier." Now, this isn't a scholarly article I am quoting and I am still just beginning my personal neonatal music therapy research, but I offer this scholarly reference: "Music research began in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) over 25 years ago. Initially, medical staff resisted the idea that music therapy could impact premature infant medical outcomes. Today Neonatal Intensive Care Unit-Music Therapy (NICU-MT) is well known in the U.S. with over 300 specially trained Board Certified Music Therapists (MT-BCs), and it is evolving in international settings. Over 50 research studies in refereed journals provide evidence-based methodology for NICU-MT and document important and unique infant benefits from music." - This quote comes from a scholarly article written by Jayne M. Standley, which can be read by following this link While, I value the importance of evidence-based research and scholarly work I will often stick to a more non-formal approach on this blog. Don't be surprised if it reads more like a journal then a textbook. Below, I have imbedded the first of what will likely be many videos posted to this blog. It is a video of me playing ukulele and singing "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (Thats An Irish Lullaby)," to my son, the other patients, and the staff/parents present in the middle of the night in the NICU.