Pregnancy and childbirth are two most significant parts of women’s lives, not only from their own standpoint but also from the child’s. Though most people do not realise this and mainly focus on medical care, the fact is that every single action, reaction, inaction or incorrect action has an impact on either or both lives. 

The Music and Musopathy approach offers not only therapeutic solutions for expectant women but transformative lifestyle approaches that positively impacts women’s minds and bodies as well as the health and environmental wellbeing of babies before and after birth. The Musopathy approach recognises that pregnancy is not merely about addressing physiological and psychological issues but also about preventing complications in the most non-invasive manner possible to avoid side effects and in order to optimise the chances for children to develop healthy minds and bodies from conception through infancy.

CHANGE IN APPROACH

This calls for a holistic approach that goes far beyond normal approaches of taking medication, doing a bit of meditation or passively listening to specific types of soothing music for some part of the day while the rest of the 24 hours includes a lot of other activities (like listening to loud music, binge watching movies or TV shows – especially those that are depressing or scary – or indulging in non-stop live or phone conversations etc) that can be subtly or strongly detrimental to both the woman and the child. The Music and Musopathy program includes some of the former and does not say ‘No’ to any of the latter but recommends moderation and individual discretion during a 12-24 month period. Expecting mothers who carefully follow the Music and Musopathy program recommendations will be able to achieve optimal results in a majority of the cases. 

TBT’s ROLE DURING & POST PREGNANCY 

Pregnancy physiological complications such as ectopic pregnancy, extreme nausea, miscarriage, congenital diseases,  Preeclampsia (temporary spikes in BP) are best addressed speedily through Allopathy interventions. 

However Participative Musopathy such as Nasal and Pursed Lips Tonation Breathing Techniques can definitely address Depression and Anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum, after the baby’s born. It can also play a role in reducing stress induced Blood Pressure or High Sugars.  Pregnant women can do either of this as per their comfort at any time of the day in any posture for as long as they feel like doing this, in addition to any other medication or complementary programs they are a part of.  

Further, there are special courses for women who are interested to learn a few songs to sing or play them themselves. 

SUGGESTED DAILY MUSIC & MUSOPATHY  REGIMEN   

The daily regimen will vary based on one’s  personality type, which will be assessed by competent Musopathists based on a questionnaire which will include questions regarding general health, known conditions, overall outlook towards life (optimistic, pessimistic etc), specific tendencies (anxious, depressed, irritable etc), daily lifestyle (active, sedentary etc) and other programs one is participating in (such as Yoga, Music or Meditation). 

In general, the Music and Musopathy program will balance between all these in a holistic manner. Significantly, the form will also seek information on one’s normal Musical preferences such as Indian or Western Classical, Devotional, Meditative, Vocal, Instrumental (which can have sub categories).  However, the program will not include nor recommend loud or hypertensive music because it is not only designed for the mother but also for the developing child. 

• 5 to 10 mts of restful Nasal Tonation upon Waking Up 
• 30-45 mts of Calming or Rejuvenating Music given in the Music and Musopathy program during breakfast 
• Physical Activity as recommended by your physician
• 10-15 mts of Nasal or Pursed Lip TBT 
• Reading or watching your favourite programme – any genre is fine except those involving depressive or horror-filled topics 
• If possible, singing or playing some instrument 
• Lunch and rest 
• Then repeat the same type of routine until dinner and bed time 

Notes:  1. There is no upper limit for the duration of TBT or listening to music.

2. If you are a working professional, modify your routine accordingly. 

DOs and DONTs

• Ensure moderation in talk, eating and watching your shows 
• Avoid raising your voice 
• Move away from abrasive sounds or loud noises and conversations
• Avoid negative thoughts and talks 
• Manage your temper 
• Avoid over-resting, a moderately active lifestyle is far more desirable 
• Avoid hyperactive late nights, TBT will usually prevent sleep disorders and/ or put you back to sleep within a few minutes 
• Do not stop your Yoga or other programs 
• Completely avoid smoking, intoxicants and substance abuse 
• Never stop prescribed medications without consulting with your doctor first 
• Avoid overexertion and take every other normal precaution that is recommended for you by your physician

ADVANTAGES 

A calm and controlled mind is often the foundation for a better body and efficient output 

• Calming the mind 
• Strengthening the mind 
• Anger management 
• Developing equanimity 
• Preventing negative emotions 
• Relaxing the body 
• The Music included in your program will further aid your mindset and physiological well being 

TBT’s potential to aid in Pain Management during labour is also being clinically investigated.

MUSOPATHY POSTPARTUM PARENTS PROGRAM 

Over  99% of people are completely unaware of or severely underestimate the significance of the first 2-3 years of every child. While most parents obviously want to do the best for their children, this lack of awareness of the numerous nuanced aspects of infant upbringing results in a huge chasm between intent and result. The most significant one among these is the subconscious impact of several routine things parents say or do in front of infants, rationalising that the child cannot understand most things. While this is not entirely untrue, it fails to factor in children’s sensitivities to tonal variations and the prolonged exposure to undesirable sounds – and sights too (like audio visual programs). While high quality research is needed in these areas, it is far better for parents to err on the side of caution during the first few years of a child’s life as the smallest of things could have the highest significance in the development of the child’s overall ability and personality.

While the responsibility to maintain good health and mindset is predominantly more for women during pregnancy, the role of the father also becomes significant after child birth in many cases.  Now both parents have to make sure that the child is not exposed to toxic tonalities including raised voices by either or both parents. Both parents must make conscious efforts to protect the infant’s aural neural pathways by exposing it to soothing sounds and pleasant conversations. Obviously, a child brought up with a mixture of both toxic and soothing tonalities will have a mixed mindset.

Here again the Music and Musopathy program as outlined above can play a major role in ensuring a strong, calm, composed and cool mindset in both parents, which in turn results in optimising their child’s mental and emotional health as well as cognitive development. 

DOs and DONTs for PARENTS WHILE RAISING INFANTS 

In addition to those listed above, parents must also ensure the following: 

• Do not expose the infant to TV shows and Video Games, especially those that showcase violence 
• Even if it be slightly contrary to your preferred lifestyles, try to not let the child spend significant times alone, especially during nights 
• Avoid raising your voice from close proximity to the child (unless it is absolutely unavoidable) 
• Soothing and not stressful and hyper loud music will protect the child’s neural networks and potentially its long term memory too

PARENTING of EXTRAORDINARY INFANTS 

Most people do not realise that a number of prodigious children are as much products of nurture as they are of nature. People tend to attribute extraordinary or even divine causes when they see child prodigies but in many cases, the major credit must go to inspired parents who invested substantial amounts of time, energy, emotion and expertise in uploading vast amounts of knowledge to infants, whose natural abilities enabled them to download, store and access these speedily when required. 

Unfortunately a majority of such prodigious talents fall by the wayside mainly because: 

• Many parents lose steam once the child gains a bit of recognition and do not sustain or consolidate upon their earlier efforts.
• They are not able to handle the popularity and remain down to earth which is an essential for the child’s sustainable success. 
• Most parents (and others around them) end up making the child conscious of its extraordinary abilities, resulting in a growing pressure on it to meet expectations of others before it has developed the required mental strength to do so. 

Here again, Music and Musopathy programs can not only aid the parents in optimising the growth of their prodigious children but also help such children directly in the first few years of their lives which will enable them to maintain their upward mobility for much longer periods.