Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth

Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth (MTACB) is perfect for expectant parents who wish for guidance on how to effectively use music to best support them during labor and delivery and want the board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) to attend the birth to employ these methods. By having a music therapist present at the birth to control the music and provide support as needed, this allows the birthing partner to better focus on the birthing parent’s needs without needing to focus on when to change the music. Expectant parents are given in-depth information and education about how music can support the birthing person, birth partner, and baby. The therapist and birthing parent will also work together to select what types of music would be most helpful to them. Specially picked playlists of music are chosen to coincide with specific labor events to best support the birthing parent. Specifically, these music programs are chosen to assist the parent by:

Blocking discomfort | Influencing hormonal production | Providing emotional support | Regulating breathing | Encouraging relaxation | Creating a calm atmosphere | Providing empowerment | Evoking imagery | Promoting bonding between the baby, birthing partner, and birthing parent

The music therapy assisted childbirth method has been found to significantly decrease the birthing parent’s anxiety and discomfort while also decreasing the need for analgesic medications during labor. Babies born without the use of analgesic medications typically are more alert, calm, breath on their own more easily, and generally have higher Apgar scores. More positive feelings about the birthing process using this method have also been reported.

 

Our Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Package includes:

  • 3 private prenatal sessions with the MT-BC

  • Live support from the Soundbirthing MT-BC during labor and delivery

  • Personalized collaborative playlists for use in early labor and post-partum bonding

  • A Nightly Practice Session Program to practice using music during the stages of birth

  • Recordings of 2 collaborative songs written together between the family and the MT-BC

  • 1 post-partum follow-up visit with the MT-BC

  • Instruction on use of music and access to multiple playlists for use after the baby is born

7 Foundational Processes of Music During Labor and Birth

According to DiCamillo, the founder of the Sound Birthing method, there are 7 foundational processes of music during labor and birth. Some or all of the following processes may be experienced by the birthing parent and their support team.

  1. Biological- Music changes biology- it is used to support the laboring parent to regulate breathing, lower blood pressure and respiration, and decrease discomfort.

  2. Psychological- Music enhances the ability to use coping mechanisms during labor and may help time to seem as though it is passing faster than it really is.

  3. Sociological- Music evokes social support from others and helps unite the birthing team together. This includes nurses, doctors, doulas, family members, and the music therapist.

  4. Emotional- Through the iso-principle, music can be used to match or affirm moods and feelings the laboring parent is experiencing or may be used to help them change their mood.

  5. Developmental- Music can support the process of becoming a parent, helping the parent to work through their fears and to let go.

  6. Spiritual- Music can enhance and support spiritual processes of the laboring parent and may evoke a peak or transpersonal experience.

  7. Environmental- Music can be very important in blocking out extraneous sounds in the birth environment that may interfere with the laboring parent’s entrainment process. Music also provides a “sound blanket” which fills the space and wraps the birthing person in sounds of comfort and safety.