Music and breathing techniques during labor for first-time mothers

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

This trial tests whether listening to selected music or using breathing exercises during labor can reduce pain and improve expectations and satisfaction for first-time mothers.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 35 Years
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: Uşak University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Uşak, Uşak)
• Trial ID: NCT07177027 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This was a randomized controlled trial at a single delivery unit in the Inner Aegean Region of Turkey that enrolled 90 healthy primiparous women planning vaginal birth. Participants were randomized into three groups (music intervention, breathing exercise, or usual care) with 30 women per group and allocation concealed using sealed opaque envelopes. The music group received antenatal exposure to a selected playlist and used music during labor, while the breathing group learned and used structured breathing exercises taught in antenatal classes; outcomes included pain perception, birth expectations, and birth satisfaction. Data collection focused on self-reported pain and satisfaction measures during and after labor.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Primiparous women aged 18–35 years at 38–42 weeks gestation who plan a vaginal delivery, have no hearing or respiratory impairments, can read and write, and attended antenatal childbirth classes are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Women with obstetric complications, those receiving labor-inducing medications, those with hearing or respiratory impairments, or those planning cesarean delivery are unlikely to receive benefit from these interventions.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, these low-cost, non-drug methods could reduce labor pain and increase birth satisfaction for first-time mothers.

How similar studies have performed: Previous randomized and observational studies have reported modest and mixed benefits of music and breathing techniques on labor pain and satisfaction, so the approach is supported by prior but not definitive evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:Participants were included in the study if they met the following criteria:

Voluntary participation in the study and provision of written informed consent, Being a primiparous pregnant woman, Aged between 18 and 35 years, Gestational age between 38 and 42 weeks, Ability to read and write, No hearing impairment that would prevent listening to music, Planning to deliver vaginally, No respiratory disorders (e.g., asthma, COPD) that would interfere with breathing exercises, No obstetric complications that could affect labor progression (e.g., precipitous labor, prolonged labor), Attendance in antenatal childbirth education classes, including learning breathing exercises and listening to the music pieces planned for the intervention.

Not receiving any labor-inducing medications

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Exclusion Criteria: Participants were excluded if they met any of the following:

Withdrawal of consent or unwillingness to continue cooperation at any stage of the study, Refusal to continue with breathing exercises or music intervention during any phase of labor, Undergoing cesarean section due to medical indications despite initial plan for vaginal delivery, Gestational age outside of 38-42 weeks, Development of labor-related complications such as precipitous or prolonged labor during the study.

Where this trial is running

Uşak, Uşak

• Uşak University — Uşak, Uşak, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Şeyma ÇATALGÖL, Dr — Uşak University
• Study coordinator: Şeyma ÇATALGÖL, Dr

Conditions Music Intervention; Breathing Exercises; Music intervention; Breathing exercises; Birth; Pregnancy