Premature babies require a long (sometimes for months) hospital stay after birth. In order to create privacy conditions and ensure an emotional connection between parents and children, there are separate wards provided. At the same time, silence, as well as disorderly noise, inhibits the formation of the brain and motor development of a prematurely born child. This silence should be filled in, while the sounds of the equipment should be supplemented with a meaningful auditory stimulus, which is music. This type of therapy is non-traumatic, requires a one-time investment, has low risks, is easy to use, and has a positive impact on children’s health both immediately and subsequently. It also reduces the costs of rehabilitation that such children may need in the future.

As of May 2023, the technical stage of the project was fully completed, and music therapy started in the procedure room and common spaces for parents and staff. A procedure for conducting music therapy for newborns has been developed based on existing international procedures. Three special playlists have also been created following an online consultation by an American music therapist, taking into account the neurophysiology of premature babies and impact on their parents.

The immediate effects of the use of music therapy were observed. According to parents and staff, subjectively, music therapy reduces the level of stress. Among the unexpected results is a significant improvement in lactation in the mothers of young patients. The staff are currently conducting observations in order to record the long-term effects of music therapy. This will take from 1 to 3 years.

Grant funds provided by Urban Space 100 were used to purchase, deliver and install an acoustic system, a wall-mounted volume control and additional elements at the unit of intensive care and early rehabilitation of prematurely born children at the Municipal Non-Profit Enterprise, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital.

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