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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
Pregnancy and the singing voice: reports from a case study.
Filipa Martins Baptista Lã1, Johan Sundberg
1Department of Communication and Arts, INET-MD, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. filipa.la@ua.pt
Summary
Pregnancy impacts a singer's voice, causing reduced vocal fold motility and increased glottal adduction due to hormonal changes. These effects on vocal production resolve after childbirth.
Area of Science:
- Vocal acoustics and physiology
- Reproductive endocrinology
Background:
- Limited research exists on pregnancy's effects on the professional singing voice.
- Hormonal shifts during pregnancy can influence phonatory conditions.
Observation:
- A longitudinal case study monitored a classically trained singer throughout late pregnancy and postpartum.
- Vocal parameters, including phonation threshold pressure (PTP) and collision threshold pressure (CTP), were assessed weekly.
- Hormone levels, vocal tasks, and listener-perceived vocal quality were analyzed.
Findings:
- Elevated estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy correlated with higher PTPs and CTPs.
- Vocal analysis indicated increased glottal adduction and decreased vocal brightness.
- Hormone levels normalized post-birth, coinciding with vocal parameter recovery.
Implications:
- Pregnancy-induced hormonal changes can alter vocal fold biomechanics and tissue properties.
- These physiological shifts may impact vocal performance in classically trained singers.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for managing vocal health during pregnancy.
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