Sounds of Love

The following is an article from the hospital's monthly employee publication. We had applied for a grant for this program back in the fall and we got one of three that they were offering. Oh, and I came up with the name. :) Yes, I'm patting myself on the back a little bit!

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environment can be extremely stressful for both babies and their families. Providing these young infants with a source of comfort and creating a distraction from unfamiliar sounds like beeping monitors is of great importance. Giving families an opportunity for involvement during a very unsure and difficult time is also a priority. The "Sounds of Love" program was created by several Nationwide Children's Hospital staff members experienced in working with babies in the NICU - a music therapist, an early intervention specialist and two parent advisors. The program lets families of NICU infants record themselves singing lullabies, reading children's books, or talking to their baby. A CD of the recording is played for the infant at appropriate times, providing an auditory connection to their family and comforting them during their hospital stay. Annie Urbanek, Music Therapist at Nationwide Children's, shared that there is both a desire and a need to encourage the connection between parents and their babies. Research indicates a 16 percent decrease in the time patients spend in the hospital when they participate in programs like this. "Sounds of Love is unique and provides a great resource for parents to strengthen the bond with their child, especially during those times where their schedule doesn't allow them to be at the hospital," said Annie. To create a Sounds of Love CD, parents are trained and encouraged to use calm, soothing voices. The CD is usually recorded in the family resource center and the cover displays a photo of the family. Shannon, whose son Isaiah is a patient in the C4 NICU, realizes how stressful it is for a baby being away from his or her mother. "You know that your baby always hears your voice when you're pregnant, and when they are born prematurely, they are exposed to many strange sounds in the NICU. When Isaiah hears my voice recording, his stats improve and he physically calms," said Shannon. In a situation where most everything is out of their control, many parents have commented that creating this personalized CD makes them feel like active participants in their baby's care and development. Often they have difficulty connecting with their infant when they are born premature or sick because they are not able to hold and care for their baby as they would a typical newborn. Sounds of Love received a grant from the Development Board to purchase many items, including a CD recorder and player, blank CDs, a digital camera and low-decibel pillow speakers. "There's no worse feeling than leaving your baby behind; but at least you can leave a part of you - your voice - with your baby. It's the next best thing to being there every second," said Shannon.