New Limerick Program Empowers Expectant mothers with the Power of Music
A groundbreaking new wellbeing programme, “Mums Using Music (MuM)-Community,” is set to launch in October, offering pregnant women in Limerick city a unique way to nurture their mental and emotional health. Developed through a collaborative effort between midwives, music therapists, and mothers with firsthand experience of pregnancy and maternity care, the programme is spearheaded by Dr.Tríona McCaffrey, a leading music therapy researcher and Associate Professor at the University of Limerick (UL).
The five-week in-person programme, a first for Ireland’s Family Resource Centres, will be hosted at the Northside Family resource centre (NFRC) in Ballynanty. It’s designed for expectant mothers between 18 and 35 weeks gestation and focuses on harnessing the benefits of music for relaxation,bonding with their unborn child,and preparing for childbirth and early parenthood. Each weekly, hour-long workshop is grounded in the latest research on music’s positive impact on pregnancy wellbeing.
The initiative responds to a significant need. Statistics from the HSE indicate that one in five women in Ireland experience mental health challenges during pregnancy, figures echoed by the World Health Organisation’s estimates of perinatal anxiety and depression globally.”Through our research at UL, we’ve found a strong desire amongst women, partners, and healthcare professionals to understand how music can support a healthy pregnancy,” explains Dr. mccaffrey. “Despite the HSE recognizing music as a wellbeing tool, there was a gap in accessible resources demonstrating how to effectively use it.”
MuM-Community builds on the success of an initial online version launched in 2023, where participants reported a direct positive impact on their maternal wellbeing through music engagement.The in-person format aims to provide a supportive environment where women can connect with themselves and their babies, regardless of musical experience.
“This programme is about empowering women with the knowledge and tools to integrate music into their pregnancy journey,” Dr. McCaffrey adds. “we hope they’ll leave with a valuable toolkit of musical resources to support their wellbeing as they become parents.”
Marie Therese Tierney, Deputy Coordinator at NFRC, highlights the programme’s alignment with the centre’s commitment to early family support. “Early intervention is crucial for building resilience, and MuM-Community offers a meaningful way for expectant mothers to connect with themselves and their babies through the power of music. We’re proud to bring this initiative to the heart of our community.”
MuM-Community will run on Thursdays from 10am to 11am, starting October 2nd, at the Northside Family Resource Centre in Ballynanty, Limerick.
Interested individuals can find more data by contacting Dr. Tríona mccaffrey at Tríona.McCaffrey@ul.ie.
