Can Group Singing Help New Mothers with Postpartum Depression?

What you need to know

• About 13% of new mothers experience postpartum depression, which can affect both maternal wellbeing and infant development
• Traditional treatments like medication and therapy have limitations including low uptake and adherence
• Community singing groups show promise as an engaging, accessible intervention that may help improve mood and mother-infant bonding

The Challenge of Postpartum Depression

The joy of having a new baby can be overshadowed by postpartum depression (PPD), a condition affecting approximately 13% of new mothers. Beyond the typical “baby blues,” PPD involves persistent feelings of sadness, fatigue, loss of interest in activities, sleep problems, and irritability. While medications and talk therapy can help, many women are reluctant to pursue these options or find it difficult to stick with treatment while caring for a newborn.

What’s more concerning is that PPD impacts not just the mother, but can also affect the crucial early bonding between mother and baby. Research shows that depressed mothers often interact less positively with their infants and may feel less connected to them. This matters because secure early attachment between mother and child helps promote healthy development.

The Healing Power of Song

An innovative approach is gaining attention: community singing groups specifically designed for mothers with PPD and their babies. While it might sound simple, there’s growing evidence that group singing can provide multiple benefits for mental health and social connection.

Singing to babies is a universal human behavior found across cultures. Studies show it helps soothe infants and can make mothers feel more bonded with their babies. But the benefits may go even deeper - singing appears to affect biological processes related to stress, inflammation, and social bonding.

How Singing Changes the Body and Brain

When we sing, especially in groups, it triggers various changes in our bodies that may help explain its mood-boosting effects:

• It reduces levels of cortisol, a key stress hormone
• It can increase oxytocin, sometimes called the “love hormone” that promotes bonding
• It may affect inflammatory markers in ways that improve emotional wellbeing

The combination of these biological changes, along with the social support of a group activity and the joy of musical interaction with one’s baby, creates a powerful intervention for PPD.

A New Large-Scale Study

Previous small studies have shown promising results for singing groups as a PPD intervention. Now, researchers are conducting a major clinical trial called SHAPER-PND to definitively test this approach. The study will involve 400 mothers with PPD and their babies, making it the largest investigation of its kind.

Half the mothers will participate in 10-week community singing programs led by professional musicians, while the other half will be encouraged to join other (non-musical) community activities. The researchers will track changes in depression symptoms, mother-infant bonding, and biological markers of stress and wellbeing.

What This Means for You

If you’re experiencing PPD or know someone who is, consider these key takeaways:

1. Community singing groups may offer an engaging, stigma-free way to address PPD symptoms while bonding with your baby

2. Even if formal singing groups aren’t available in your area, singing to and with your baby at home may provide benefits

3. The combination of social support, musical engagement, and mother-infant interaction appears particularly powerful for emotional wellbeing

Conclusions

• Group singing shows promise as an accessible, enjoyable intervention for postpartum depression that can benefit both mother and baby
• The biological and social mechanisms of singing may help reduce stress, improve mood, and promote bonding
• More research is underway to definitively demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach and potentially make it more widely available