Collaboration between Pharmacy & Computer Engineering at Unpak for Heart Health

UNPAK – Posyandu Kemuning 1A in Sukamakmur Village, Ciomas, became the venue for the Community Service activity aimed at introducing the use of fetal music instrumental devices to the local community.

This activity was held on January 25-26, 2025, with the goal of providing significant benefits for pregnant women and improving the quality of health services in the area.

The fetal music instrumental device is a tool used to play music to the fetus in the womb, with frequencies that are safe and comfortable for its development.

The music played can be classical music, soft melodies, or natural sounds, which are believed to have calming effects and stimulate brain development in babies.

Some of the devices used include headphones or special speakers placed on the mother’s abdomen, pregnancy music pillows with built-in speakers, and prenatal music apps designed specifically for pregnant women and fetuses.

Several studies have shown that listening to music during pregnancy can calm the fetus, improve its response to sound, and support the development of sensory and cognitive functions.

Music can stimulate brain development by enhancing nerve connections that play a role in cognitive and sensory aspects.

In addition, playing music regularly also helps establish the fetus’s sleep patterns, which will later affect its sleep habits after birth.

However, it is important to monitor the volume and duration of music to ensure it remains safe for the fetus. Soft melodies can have a relaxing effect, reduce stress in mothers, and calm the fetus.

This activity also helps strengthen the emotional bond between the mother and the baby, as the fetus can recognize the sounds it frequently hears.

This Community Service activity was carried out by lecturers from Universitas Pakuan, involving Ibu Marybet Tri Retno Handayani, M.Farm as the team leader, Yuli Wahyuni, ST., MT as the first member, and Ibu Apt. Nyayu Siti Aminah Lily Elfrieda, M.Farm as the second member.

The activity also involved students from the Pharmacy Program and D3 Computer Engineering. This program supports the MBKM (Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka) initiative, with students from various disciplines directly involved in its implementation.

According to the cadres of Posyandu Kemuning 1A, this activity was very beneficial because the Posyandu had previously not had a fetal music instrumental device for use by the community.

Based on data obtained from questionnaires filled out by participants, pregnant women in Sukamakmur Village were very interested in trying the device. They felt that similar community service events focused on health education were much needed, particularly for pregnant women, to support the development of their fetuses.

This Community Service program aims to assist healthcare workers in providing better services to the community, help monitor fetal development early on to minimize the risk of fetal death and stunting, and provide portable digital tools that can assist pregnant women. The relaxing effects of music have also been shown to provide significant benefits for both the pregnant mother and the fetus, emotionally and physically.

The activity also provided training and socialization on the use of fetal music instrumental devices, particularly for Posyandu cadres and pregnant women.

Through this training, it is hoped that the quality of Posyandu services in Sukamakmur Village will be improved, and provide insights into the importance of nutrition and fetal development during pregnancy, as well as ways to minimize the risk of stunting.

With the availability of this device, pregnant women can experience benefits such as emotional stability and more balanced body hormones, which will, in turn, support optimal fetal growth.

This program is free of charge, making it very helpful for the community, especially pregnant women, in achieving a healthier Indonesian society.

This activity is a tangible example of how collaboration between universities, communities, and health institutions can have a positive impact on improving the quality of life for the community, especially in terms of maternal and child health.