This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effects of music listening and breathing exercises during labor on pain perception, birth expectations, and birth satisfaction among primiparous women. The study was conducted in the delivery unit of a hospital in the Inner Aegean Region of Turkey and included 90 healthy primiparous pregnant women admitted for vaginal delivery. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to one of three groups: music intervention group, breathing exercise group, or control group, with 30 women in each group.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups (Music Intervention, Breathing Exercise, Control) using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Allocation concealment was ensured by using sealed, opaque envelopes prepared by a researcher who was not involved in participant recruitment or assessment.
In the music intervention group, participants attended childbirth preparation classes at 36 weeks of gestation, where they were introduced to 12 carefully selected music tracks. In order to determine the music pieces to be used in the study, a playlist consisting of 36 tracks with varying tempos and emotional content was created. The playlist included an equal number of slow, moderate, and fast-tempo pieces, each further divided into subcategories representing calming, neutral, and uplifting emotional tones.
The selection process involved 20 volunteer pregnant individuals who were not part of the study sample but shared similar demographic characteristics. These volunteers were asked to listen to short excerpts (30-60 seconds) of each track and to identify the 12 pieces they liked the most. Preferences were recorded either through a Likert-type rating form.
To minimize order effects, the music tracks were presented in a randomized sequence. Participants were encouraged to use headphones to reduce environmental distractions and ensure consistent audio quality.
This participant-based music selection approach was designed to enhance emotional and cultural alignment between the selected music and the target population. It also aimed to increase the ecological validity of the intervention by incorporating music preferences that are more likely to elicit genuine emotional and physiological responses.Short samples of each track were played during the class. The full music playlist was shared with each participant via WhatsApp for home listening, and regular reminders were sent every few days to encourage consistent use during the antenatal period. During labor, women were encouraged to listen to music freely. In addition, at 4, 6, and 8 cm of cervical dilation, all participants in this group were asked to listen to their preferred tracks from the playlist for 20 minutes. Pain intensity was evaluated before and after each listening session using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
In the breathing exercise group, participants were trained in Lamaze breathing techniques during childbirth preparation classes and were encouraged to apply these techniques throughout labor. At 4, 6, and 8 cm cervical dilation, structured breathing exercises were performed, and pain was assessed before and after each session using the VAS.
The control group received routine maternity care without any additional non-pharmacological interventions. However, VAS pain assessments were still conducted at 4, 6, and 8 cm cervical dilation for comparison.
The duration of the first, second, and third stages of labor was recorded for all participants. In the postpartum period, the Birth Expectation Scale and Birth Satisfaction Scale were administered to assess maternal perspectives and satisfaction with the birth experience.
Study data were collected using a sociodemographic data form, VAS for pain assessment, and validated scales for measuring birth expectations and satisfaction. The results of this study may inform the use of non-pharmacological interventions to improve maternal comfort and the childbirth experience in clinical practice.
