A sweet song that an opera singer sang to me. Delphine Ribémont-Lambert, soprano at the Dijon opera, has been humming in the ear of premature babies at the CHU (university hospital center) of Dijon since 2016. Once a month, it’s the same ritual for 1 hour 30 minutes, but not always the same song: the artist goes to the little ones’ rooms (in the neonatal and intensive care unit), then talks with the parents. When the France 5 cameras came to film a session at the Dijon University Hospital – for a documentary which will be broadcast this Tuesday, December 17 on France 5 – Delphine had chosen to sing the lullaby Slowly the earth falls asleep. Provoking sucking reflexes in little ones, “it’s one of the most beautiful reactions. It’s not easy for these little ones, yet it’s a vital reflex (Editor’s note: this is what allows the baby to feed). »
“You should not sing loudly because the baby’s ENT system is not finished”
This monthly meeting at the hospital is the result of a partnership between the University Hospital and the Dijon Opera in order to promote cultural mediations. Delphine volunteers and lands with very premature babies. But it is not entirely a coincidence since the 46-year-old artist had followed psychophony training and is training in music therapy.
So, how do we sing to these little ones born way too soon? “You should not sing loudly because the baby’s ENT system is not finished, nor too high-pitched either. Low sounds are of interest to the child. You need an ambitus (Editor’s note: the distance between the lowest and highest notes) which is not too important. » The artist uses five, six lullabies which work well, and which she can teach to parents. Because she wants to blackmail them, “that was the condition,” she explains. For what ? “The singing voice creates a bond of attachment between parent and child. The ideal is even to sing skin to skin because it provides a vibrational massage at the same time,” she emphasizes. “It’s also a small moment for parents that is not medical in a very medicalized day. »
No need to sing in tune
This bond of attachment, Emmanuelle Ledeuil, music therapist ( read elsewhere ) at Dijon University Hospital knows him well since she is participating in a study dedicated to him (initiated by Solène Pichon, childcare nurse) as part of the national plan for the first 1,000 days. “We want to show that the more a parent sings to their child, the more they will participate in the bond of attachment,” explains the woman who also appears in the France 5 documentary.
The thirty-year-old has been working at Dijon University Hospital since 2011, working with very premature babies, but also in psychiatry for children and adolescents.
“Bringing sound around healthcare costs nothing and has spectacular effects. We don’t treat, we don’t cure, but we create a sound skin around everything they are going through, and it works. Even in psychiatry. »
No need to sing just to make it work. “The only condition is the intention. The important thing is to transmit: without intention it doesn’t work. This is what I tell the caregivers I train in singing voice. » Indeed, some caregivers hum when they provide sometimes painful care for little ones, “like lumbar punctures, this is done a lot in neonates. But I can also be called upon in hematology for children who have cancer.”
The voice is not her only tool, Emmanuelle also uses instruments such as the n’goni, an African harp. “We pluck the strings and we’re only going to play three notes. It’s very simple, I don’t do concerts or performances, what matters is the sound. » And the intention.
The Dijon University Hospital highlighted in a documentary to be seen this Tuesday evening on France 5
The program “Enquête de santé” explores the extraordinary powers of music on our body and our mind in “When music is good… for our health!”, broadcast this Tuesday, December 17, on France 5.
The documentary directed by Céline Bittner will be followed by a debate moderated by Marina Carrère d’Encausse. Emmanuelle Ledeuil, music therapist from Dijon, will also participate in the discussions. The documentary takes us to the Dijon University Hospital alongside very premature babies.
We also meet surgeon Aïcha N’Doye, member of the group Les caregiveres, who sings while she operates to calm patients’ anxieties. Mathias Malzieu, from the group Dyonisos, was seriously ill and it was music that helped him through the various trials. Neurologist Sylvie Chokron and composer André Manoukian decipher the famous “Mozart effect” which maintains that certain melodies make us more intelligent….
“When music is good… for our health!”, Tuesday December 17 at 9:05 p.m. on France 5 and on france.tv.
