Childbirth and Music

I love giving birth! I really do.

I know that many other women have not had such pleasant experiences, but I can honestly say that I have truly enjoyed my childbirth experiences.

Do you want to know my secret?

Music, Music, Music.

A woman in Australia who participated in Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth for her labor and delivery described her labor as “peaceful, relaxed, and beautiful.” It’s not often that you see those three words used to describe labor. This woman and her husband worked with a music therapist to program music for the different phases and moments of labor. They were able to use music as a

• support
• distraction from pain, and
• relaxation tool

Having used music for both of my labors I can say that the music is what got me, and everyone in the room, through those hours of ups and downs.

The music can influence the childbirth experience

• physically
• emotionally, and
• environmentally

Physically, music is a great tool for pain management in labor. By focusing on the music as your point of primary attention, the perception of pain decreases. Music can also help cue breathing exercises and pace the mother throughout the physical experience.

Emotionally, music provides a comfort, a source of familiarity to help a couple deal with the anxiety and stresses of waiting for a new baby to arrive. A birthing song, which may be played when a child is born will also be a bond that you, your partner, and your baby will share each time you hear that song.

Environmentally, the effects of music playing are also very strong. For the mother and her support person, music can help change the environment of the room to make it a lively, up-beat space, or can quiet the room immediately when the mother wants to slow things down. From my own experiences, the effect the music had on hospital staff was also surprising. The nurses and doctors loved coming into our room and told us so! It is a wonderful thing when your caregivers in the hospital want to be in your room! It makes everything more pleasant.

Many years ago, music therapists needed to get permission to bring tape players into hospitals for Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth. Today many hospitals will provide music players for use in the labor and delivery rooms and childbirth classes often recommend that you bring music. However, they don’t tell you what to listen to or when to use the music.  Nor do they tell you why you should practice with music beforehand, or how to best program your music for labor to help you create your ideal childbirth experience.

Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth is an incredible tool for expectant Moms and Dads.

To learn more see our Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth page, or contact Meredith Pizzi, MT-BC by phone or email.

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