Depression during pregnancy (antenatal depression) affects up to 1 in 5 pregnant women in the UK. If left untreated, it can have a long-lasting impact on both maternal wellbeing and infant development, as well as affecting the quality of the mother-infant relationship. Given the potential impact on mother and infant outcomes, there is a pressing need for early and preventive interventions during pregnancy, a key window in which intervention may lead to the greatest benefits.  

 

Group singing has emerged as a promising alternative to medication or psychological therapy to support maternal mental health and strengthen the developing mother-infant relationship. Previous research in mothers with postnatal depression has shown that group singing can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, lower biological markers of stress and enhance maternal feelings of closeness towards the baby. Building on this, our research from the recent SHAPER trial has shown that a specially designed group singing intervention, Breathe Melodies for Mums, by Breathe Arts Health Research, is an effective and acceptable treatment for mothers with postnatal depression (the period after the baby is born). However, despite these advances, most studies to date have focused on singing for mothers with depression in the postnatal period and research is now needed to understand the effect of singing for mothers experiencing antenatal depression.  

 

To address this gap, our project aims to adapt the SHAPER postnatal singing intervention, Breathe Melodies for Mums, for use during pregnancy in women experiencing symptoms of antenatal depression. Specifically, we will investigate whether the six-week group singing programme will a) reduce symptoms of depression and b) improve the mother-infant relationship. As part of the study, we will also explore the role of maternal biological markers of stress (e.g., stress hormones) and psychosocial factors (e.g., maternal childhood experiences and current social support). 

 

To do this, we plan to recruit 50 women with symptoms of depression in the second trimester of pregnancy. Participants will be randomly allocated to either receive six weeks of the Breathe Melodies for Mums singing intervention during pregnancy (consisting of weekly 60-minute sessions led by a trained singing lead) or standard antenatal care as usual. Those receiving standard antenatal care will be offered the opportunity to join singing sessions postnatally. Participants will complete assessments during pregnancy and the postnatal period (up to 12 months postpartum) to allow us to measure changes in symptoms of depression and the mother-infant relationship, as well as explore the role of biological markers of stress and psychosocial factors.