World Health Day: Supporting mothers and babies with live music

This year’s World Health Day focuses on maternal and newborn health and the need for safe and effective pre and postnatal support. We are highlighting the impact that live music has on the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies.

Gentle live music can transform a hospital environment, bringing a sense of calm to an often daunting and stressful situation. Research shows that gentle music can lower babies’ heart rates and improve their sleep quality, helping them recover faster and spend less time in hospital.  

Music in Hospitals & Care singer, guitarist and banjo player Sathari Kam visits neonatal units at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital, and Northwick Park Hospital.  

Sathari has seen clear improvements in health indicators like oxygen levels when sharing live music with newborns. She explains: “The oxygen levels should be around 100. Sometimes they start lower, but as I sing, you can see it creep up, often from 89 to 98. You can see that music has a positive effect because the baby’s oxygen levels improve.” 

Our Lullaby Hour programme offers the chance to experience soothing songs and melodies, bringing tangible benefits for both babies and their families.  

Sathari adds: “Lullaby Hour is by far my favourite place to play. I don’t really perform gigs – I prefer intimate settings where I can create songs and share them with a small audience. Lately, I’ve been favouring the guitar because it has a softer tone. You can pluck it in such a way that it almost sounds like a harp, and babies really seem to respond to that.” 

Feedback from those who have experienced Lullaby Hour revealed that 85% of parents felt less stressed and anxious, and noticed the same in their baby. 

Sathari explains the deep connection that music can forge, particularly in moments of tension or uncertainty. “One Catalan song, Terra Nostra, had a particularly profound impact. I once sang it for a baby about to go into surgery. The baby’s mother was very young – maybe 16 or 17 – and was accompanied by her parents who seemed anxious. As I sang, the baby fell asleep, and the whole family visibly relaxed. It was a really special moment. 

When I speak to the nurses, they often ask me to sing because the baby is crying. When I sing something soft, the baby stops crying and often falls asleep. It’s incredible to see how music can make a real difference.” 

Music has the ability to reduce stress and enhance emotional connection on neonatal wards and children’s healthcare units across the UK. Every baby deserves the healthiest start in life, and music can be a beautiful, natural part of that journey.