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Singing and PregnancyDate: May 10, 2010
I was informed by one of the cantors at my church - on Mother's Day, appropriately enough - that she found out a couple days ago she's going ot be a mommy. I'm interestred in finding pedagogical resources that specifically address the issue of singing while pregnant. I suspect she will want to continue to sing for as long as she can.
Cheers,
Dan McGarvey
Replies (10): Threaded | Chronological
John Howell on May 10, 2010 10:55am
And she SHOULD keep singing as long as she can!
According to a very good woman voice teacher I worked with at one time, the same muscles used in childbirth are muscles that women singers can use for good breath support, so singers should actually have those muscles better developed than the average woman. And I know that my wife sang until very late in her pregnancies (and played viol and crumhorn as well, although the babies didn't care all that much for crummhorn!!).
BUT, every woman's body is different, and she should definitely go with her own doctor's advice.
All the best,
John
on May 11, 2010 4:09am
This singer sang through 4 pregnancies, each time becoming delightfully aware of how my upward pushing diaphragm made me more aware of the singer's mechanism without causing any problems of breath support. I'm also an organist/pianist who found great delight in "bellying up to the bar", playing for my baby, and enjoying the ensuing dance within. And, yes, all four are musical kids. I expect your cantor won't have any problems singing throughout her pregnancy.
on May 11, 2010 5:43am
Dan,
I realize that you are trying to look out for your singer, but really there shouldn't be any issues with singing while she's pregnant. It's not an illness, or a handicap, so why should it be a problem?
As long as she is comfortable singing, and isn't feeling embarrassed about being in front of people, she should sing. I sang and played the piano in my church until about 5 days before I gave birth, and I was 3 weeks late, so I was huge!
Let her be the judge, and unless she has complications with her pregnancy, all should be well.
Congrats to her!
on May 12, 2010 9:17am
Geneva:
I think you've misinterpreted my intentions. Of course I am fully aware that pregnancy is not an illness. My post must have been poorly worded for you to think I have some kind of social agenda here, but it was purely in the spirit gaining knowledge of pedagogical and physiological considerations for a prenant singer, which I beleive are perfectly valid considerations. Can you help?
on May 11, 2010 8:56am
Hi Dan - I've not had much experience with "pregnancies" however this past weekend seven of my former students came home to do a fund raiser with me. My soprano in the group is 7 months pregnant and while at times she complained of not have the breath she was use to she was "brilliant". She is 31 but as far as I could tell the pregnacy wasn't keeping her from singing and her technique was flawless.
on May 11, 2010 2:58pm
Hey Dan,
I am a singer and I'm currently 6 months pregnant. I just did 2 concerts over the past weekend and I did fine. I took a pillow in a white pillow case (our chairs were white) and sat on it when we had our times to sit down during the concert because our chairs were very uncomfortable. When your pregnant, you find ways to get comfortable when you need to be. I also had a solo so I had to come down to the microphone from the top row of risers. With someone just holding my hand, I did fine. I enjoyed every bit of it and I am a lot closer to a lot of my Chorale members now. All they wanted to talk about was the music we were singing and the baby I am carrying.
One of the things my doctor has told me is to not stop doing what I was doing before I was pregnant as long as I'm comfortable with it and I haven't. I'm even involved in a theatrical group and our production will be presented when I'm a month away from my due date until 2 weeks before. I'm not letting being pregnant stop me from being involved in that either.
Pregnancy isn't a disease and doesn't need to be treated like it's a fragile thing. It's a beautiful accent to life. :-) If your cantor wants to keep singing, let her. Oh, let me also mention that it can be very soothing to the baby. I know everytime I'm singing or sitting at the piano, my little girl settles down a lot with her kicking. Well, until I hit a really high note, then she starts dancing again. LOL. Singing is a great way for baby to bond with mom and the sound of her voice. It's a great thing. Trust me.
on May 11, 2010 7:03pm
I'm afraid I have to disagree with several of the posts. I am currently pregnant and find my voice just doesn't operate the way it does when I'm not pregnant. The exact same thing happened with my first pregnancy. My top range is limited and flexiblity seems to be impacted as well. I haven't experienced the breathing problems that many women complain about in pregnancy despite gaining 1/2 of my pre-pregnancy weight. One symptom of pregnancy can be nasal congestion/post nasal drip which of course can interfere with siniging. Acid reflux is another common problem in pregnancy. (A singer friend of mind threw up for all 9 months of the pregnancy. Imagine what that does to the vocal chords). By no means should your cantor stop singing, but she might experience some frustrations.
on May 12, 2010 7:17am
In August, there was a good discussion here on breath control and comfort seating for a pregnant singer - search the archives to find it. An excerpt from a comment I posted there, which also discusses vocal changes during lactation:
"[one poster]s comments about] understanding how the voice can change in pregnancy, and of being careful to sing safely and comfortably within those (temporary) limitations, are very important. The thickened [due to hormonal changes] vocal cords are more 'masculine' and therefore [the singer may have a] deeper [range]. I would also add that these temporary changes can remain in effect during breastfeeding, as well, when hormones also cause significant changes in body chemistry. I'm a high soprano, but as my pregnancy progressed, and throughout almost 3 yrs of lacation, my voice deepened a bit [half an octave or so] and I was more comfortable singing second soprano or even alto once in while. This seemed OK as long as I sang very lightly and retained as much head voice as possible. Once I stopped breastfeeding, my voice returned to its typical range and quality, with no damage. Care and gentleness and awareness were my watchwords [and support from choral directors willing to be flexible with my vocal assignments]. I talked to singers who were aware of pregnancy-related changes, but only a very few who knew about the continuation of changes through lactation. Perhaps this is because relatively few women nurse for any length of time? Anyway, nursing mother-singers should take care and understand that hormonal-related vocal changes can continue through lactation. This will vary with the extent and duration of lacation, I expect."
As Alice said, each woman experiences pregnancy in a unique way - much depends on individual body type, hormone levels (which vary from woman to woman), etc., etc. Just be supportive and understanding if a pregnant singer needs to sit more, needs to take more frequent restroom breaks, needs to wear comfortable clothing, etc.
Sarah Hager Johnston
GraceNotes
on May 13, 2010 6:11am
I just thought I'd add my 2 cents. I thought you were just trying to be concerned and I didn't take it as though you wanted her to stop. I chuckled when I first read the post. I sang up until the day I delivered my children. The day I had my 2nd child, I even had marching band practice in the early morning. (I had a little trouble keeping up, but the kids were fantastic.) If she can do it, then no problem. The hormones might change her voice, but with mine, my range went up.
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