Stockholm, Sweden — April, 2024
Announcing the winner of The Preglife Award 2024: Pernilla Hugosson, musical therapist at Sachsska Barnsjukhuset’s Neonatal Ward Stockholm, in recognition of her important work with implementing research findings in music therapy and her sincere dedication in providing support to premature infants and their parents.
“Being a parent to a child in the neonatal ward means diving into a whirlwind of worries, surrounded by beeps and alarms that sound like they belong in a sci-fi movie. It's a place where uncertainty mixes with the strangest-looking cords and tubes, all leading to your precious little one. But then Pernilla walks in, bringing with her not only music, but also these incredible pockets of peace and tranquility. Her melodies work like magic, drowning out the noise of the machines. Suddenly, there's space for families to come together, take a deep breath, and let their shoulders relax. It's these moments that give them the strength to keep going, to keep fighting, and most importantly, to bond with their newborn.” - Erik Borgström, Pediatrician/Senior Consultant in Neonatology
Preglife is committed to supporting projects that prioritise attachment, bonding, and seamless transitions into early parenthood. These pillars also serve as the foundation for our nomination.
“This year’s award celebrates the theme of attachment, shining the spotlight to the important role of music therapy in stimulating deepened connections between premature babies and their parents within a neonatal unit." - Preglife Medical Board
To achieve an optimal neonatal care environment for preterm-born infants, many early interventions have been developed. Musical interventions developed for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have shown beneficial effects on vital functions and weight gain of preterm infants and might also influence basic auditory processing and thereby enhance outcomes.