From early history, people have relied upon music to calm the soul and replenish lost emotions such as love, comfort, and happiness. Music has a strong, mysterious power over people's thoughts, actions, and, yes, even pain. "Patient's have demonstrated significant positive results in studies involving the use of music with postoperative surgery, dentistry, spinal cord injury, pediatric treatment, and chronic pain"(Browning, 2000, 272). With this in mind, it only seems evident that music can also relieve pain during childbirth.

To understand the use of music therapy in relieving pain, one must understand how the brain perceives music and pain. According to research done by Eagle and Harsh, it seems that pain and music follow the same pathway to the brain (Browning, 2000, 272). If music is introduced to the brain at the same time pain is introduced to the brain; music seems to block some of the available pathways the pain could take to the brain. Simply, music helps block the perception of pain. Music also can help the laboring mother to relax and decrease her stress levels significantly (Browning, 2000, 272).

So, you might be asking, "Exactly what is music therapy?" Music therapy is a profession in which a trained, professional music therapist accompanies the woman during labor with musical activities. "Music therapy does not claim to cure in the medical sense, but it may be an effective intervention to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual healing" (Browning, 2000, 273). Although it is preferred for a music therapist to accompany a laboring woman with music therapy, it is not a necessity. Women can bring audio cassettes or compact discs from home and listen to their favorite music while laboring. Instrumental music is the preferred type of music for pain control, but it is important that the laboring woman choose the style of music for herself (Browning, 2000, 272). Also, while listening to music during labor, it is important to focus on a relaxing object, place, or feeling.

In August, 1997, a study was conducted in Brantford, Ontario, Canada that studied the effects music has on pain relief. Eleven laboring women participated in this study along with a trained music therapist that "coached" the woman with music therapy during labor. Before labor, the woman was asked to listen to some music daily (at least one tape per day) while relaxing. During labor, the music therapist accompanied the laboring woman, coached her with relaxation techniques and music therapy, and interviewed the woman after her labor. The types of music that were used during labor encompassed a variety of styles and genres. The most favored of the musical types was the instrumental, classical music. Upon interviewing the women after labor, they reported "that the music helped them focus on their support people throughout labor", whearas others noted, "that the music assisted in withdrawal from the pain" (Browning, 2000, 274). One woman reported, "I tried to have that quiet place to go and it seemed easier for me to concentrate on the music and kind of get swept away like that, rather than using a focal point" (Browning, 2000, 274). Other women felt as though the music uplifted their soul and felt the need to dance. This woman's reply states, "I became extroverted. I was dancing." All women also found that the music helped with relaxation. Some women even found that music also helped relax their crying, newborn babies. (Browning, 2000, 275)

As the research states, music can help alleviate discomfort, stress, and fear during labor; but it is important that one understand that music is not a cure for pain. Some women use music therapy in conjunction with narcotics, analgesics, and epidurals. It is ultimately up to the laboring woman which methods of pain relief she will use during her labor and childbirth. However, if you do choose music therapy as a non-pharmacological method of pain relief during labor, we would encourage that you use the following guidelines:

1. "All music should be chosen by the mother" (Browning, 2000, 275).

2. "The music should be familiar to the mother before labor begins, and she should allow herself some time daily to listen in a relatively relaxed state" (Browning, 2000, 275).

3. "To avoid boredom, several different tapes should be made. They may not all be used during labor, but variety is necessary" (Browning, 2000, 275).

4. "A special tape may be made of music that has significant meaning to the mother and her partner, and this can be played during the delivery. The other side may contain lullabies for the baby to be played after birth" (Browning, 2000, 275).

5. "The mother should be made the guide. Her verbal and nonverbal responses to the music are the key to a positive birth experience using music" (Browning, 2000, 275).

In conclusion, music therapy has been proven through research and personal experiences to be an effective relief of stress, pain, and fear during labor. Music has no adverse side effects and can be used in conjunction with medication and epidurals. All in all, music therapy is a fun and interesting way to make your childbirth a true experience to remember and cherish.