Breathe Melodies for Mums - Breathe

Breathe Melodies for Mums

Our pioneering singing service for mothers with or at risk of postnatal depression

Based on ground-breaking research from Royal College of Music and Imperial College London, Breathe Melodies for Mums was designed with mum at the heart, to support those who may be experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety and social isolation.

Breathe Melodies for Mums is a fun way to boost mood, unwind and de-stress through the joy of singing and music-making. Sessions are led by a specialist arts and health Singing Leader with songs ranging from folk to gospel, in a number of different languages.

Participation is free, and weekly sessions allow women to connect with each other in a supportive space, establish a structure to their week, and have a positive experience to focus on.

The sessions really increase your energy levels and mood. There was no stigma. We were all just there singing and trying to find ourselves through the music. They reminded me that as a mum, you have to count yourself as important.
Jenny, Breathe Melodies for Mums Participant Read more

Breathe are delivering sessions in person again and have implemented protocols to make participants feel safe, including room ventilation, hand sanitisation stations and reduced group numbers.

See our current programmes below; registration is essential as places are limited.

South London Programmes

Register interest in our next FREE 10-week programmes for new mums with babies aged 0-9 months in South London and contribute to the SHAPER research study with King's College London

  • Starting 9 May 2023 (Streatham) Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 Sunnyhill Children's Centre, SW16 2UW
  • Starting 9 May 2023 (Stockwell) Tuesdays 13:30-14:30 Stockwell Children's Centre, SW9 9TG
  • Starting 11 May 2023 (Peckham) Thursdays 13:30-14:30 Pilgrim's Way Children's Centre, SE15 1EF

Tower Hamlets Programme

Register interest in our next FREE 10-week programme for new mums with babies aged 0-9 months in Tower Hamlets and neighbouring boroughs

  • Starting 22 May 2023 (Bethnal Green) Mondays 12:00-13:00 and 13:30-14:30 Collingwood Children's Centre, E1 5QT

Winter Online Programme

Register interest in our next FREE 8-week programme for new mums based outside of London with babies aged 0-12 months

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90%

90% of participants experienced an improvement in symptoms of postnatal depression in our online programme

Breathe Melodies for Mums has received national press coverage, including features in The Telegraph, The Times and The Guardian.

Sessions have supported hundreds of women to improve their wellbeing over the last three years, and have been found to increase confidence, reduce feelings of loneliness and help new mothers bond with their baby.

Read more about the research behind the programme.

I thought Melodies for Mums was amazing, at the end of every session I felt confident, calmer and happier. At first, I was just singing to keep up with everyone. We sounded great quickly, it helped that two of the group already had singing experience. I, on the other hand, had no experience at all, my only experience was singing hymns at school. But it didn’t matter, we all sounded great in the end, including me!
Maartje, Breathe Melodies for Mums Participant Read more

87%

87% of mums felt happier as a result of our online programme

Frequently asked questions

The programme is designed for women experiencing low mood, anxiety, stress, social isolation or symptoms of postnatal depression with babies aged 9 months or below. On registration, we’ll send you a health and wellbeing questionnaire to understand where participants are at when joining the programme, as well as any additional support required. 

The sessions take place weekly led by an arts and health music specialist and a member of our teamThey are an hour in length, we’ll spend around 45 minutes singing with opportunities to chat and check-in throughout. All participants will receive a welcome pack in advance so you know what to expect.

Participants are not required to have any previous singing ability. We’ll slowly introduce very simple songs and melodies with the option to try harmonies later in the programme once you’ve built your confidence!  

Not necessarily, if your baby needs to sleep or feed during the sessions they are very welcome to.

Our Partners

Melodies for Mums Podcast

Listen to five of our mums (and babies) talk about their experiences with the Melodies for Mums programme and also how it has been becoming a new parent in the pandemic.

Find out more

By supporting our work, you're enabling us to reach more people with our creative healthcare programmes