Effect of Music on Labor Pain Relief, Anxiety Level and Postpartum Analgesic Requirement: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Journal

Gynecologic and Obstetric investigation

Year

2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The control of labor pain and the prevention of suffering are major concerns of clinicians and their patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of music on labor pain and anxiety, maternal hemodynamics, fetal-neonatal parameters and postpartum analgesic requirement in primiparous women. METHODS: Overall, 156 primiparous women who expected vaginal delivery were recruited and randomly assigned to a music group (n = 77) or a control group (n = 79). Women in the music group listened to music during labor. Pain intensity and anxiety level were measured using a visual analogue scale (0-10 cm). The two groups were compared in terms of pain severity, anxiety level, maternal hemodynamics, fetal-neonatal parameters and postpartum analgesic requirement. RESULTS: Mothers in the music therapy group had a lower level of pain and anxiety compared with those in the control group at all stages of labor (p < 0.001). A signi fi cant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of maternal hemodynamics and fetal heart rate after intervention (p < 0.01). Postpartum analgesic requirement significantly decreased in the music therapy group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Listening to music during labor has a positive impact on labor pain and anxiety, maternal-fetal parameters and analgesic requirement.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Analgesic Intake; Anxiety; Anxiety Scales; Childbirth; Heart Rate; Hospital Setting; Hospitalized Patients; Labor Pain; Medication Use; Music Listening; Music Medicine; Pain; Pain Management and Control; Pain Score or Rating; Pain Severity; Postpartum Pain; Pregnancy; Recorded Music Listening; Self-Report Measures; Visual Analog Scale (VAS); Vital signs

Indexed Terms

Adolescents; Analgesia; Anxiety; Gestational Age; Heart Rate, Fetal; Hemodynamics; Newborn Infants; Labor Pain; Labor, Obstetric; Pain Measurement; Parity; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy

Study Type

Randomized Controlled Trial; Quantitative Methods

PubMed ID

25227477

Document Type

Article

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