Effects of Music and Breathing Exercises During Labor on Pain and Birth Satisfaction in First-Time Mothers

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate how music listening and breathing exercises during labor affect pain perception, birth expectations, and satisfaction in first-time pregnant women. Conducted in a hospital delivery unit in Turkeys Inner Aegean Region, the trial included 90 healthy primiparous women admitted for vaginal delivery. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups a music intervention group, a breathing exercise group, or a control group receiving routine care. In the music intervention group, women were introduced to 12 selected music tracks at 36 weeks of pregnancy during childbirth preparation classes. These tracks were shared via WhatsApp for regular listening before labor, with reminders sent every few days. During labor, participants could listen to music freely and specifically at 4, 6, and 8 cm cervical dilation for 20 minutes each time. The breathing exercise group learned Lamaze breathing techniques during prenatal classes and practiced them throughout labor, including guided sessions at the same cervical dilation points. The control group received standard maternity care without additional interventions, but pain was assessed at the same timepoints across all groups. Participants were assessed for pain intensity using the Visual Analog Scale VAS before and after music sessions or breathing exercises during labor. The duration of each labor stage was recorded, and within 6 to 12 hours after delivery, women completed scales measuring birth expectations and satisfaction. Sociodemographic data and pain scores were collected to understand how these non-drug methods might influence the childbirth experience and maternal comfort.

The Effects of Breathing Exercises and Music Intervention During Labor on Pain Perception, Birth Expectations, and Birth Satisfaction in Primiparous Women