Effects of Music Therapy on Psychological Health of Women During Pregnancy



Effects of music therapy on psychological health of women during pregnancy

Summary

Pregnancy is a time for the mother sweet but also a source of stress and anxiety In this circumstance, music therapy can be a useful preventive tool that helps the mother to preserve her mental and physical health and her unborn child to develop in a healthy and balanced. It is well known that negative emotional states of the mother affect the child she is carrying, influencing the future development and growth. The music, however, acting on the autonomic nervous system, promotes the production of endorphins, an excellent antidote to anxiety, stress and fatigue.

The fetus, however, feels the effects of music therapy not only as a reflection of maternal moods, but also directly. It was noted, in fact, that if the melody is nice and sweet, calming the child reacts and swaying gently, and if the music is too loud or dissonant, shaking and kicking. Mother and child are, therefore, use of sound therapy to prepare to live happy event in a state of mental well-being.

Pregnancy causes a number of physical and psychological changes: a new life stirs in the womb, breaking habits. The woman knows that the moment of conception, the existence of this little being is tied to her but do not know if it can be a good mother, if you will be able to face the doubts, worries, responsibilities of motherhood.

For this, the woman feels the need to adequately predispose the happy event through lectures, courses, experiences that can facilitate the time of childbirth and to prepare a responsible motherhood. In this context, the music therapy plays an important role because it predisposes to face serenely pregnancy and the birth of her child by teaching at the same time, to “listen” and to empathize with him. Music therapy does not only provide passive listening, however, plays an important role as it promotes relaxation of the woman.

Listening, however, must be accompanied by work association of images, memories, landscapes, relaxing melodies that, of course, will be slow and soothing and not too exciting or inharmonious. This activity will be proposed again during labor. In fact, it helps to draw attention away from the fear of the future mother, managing anxiety and panic, decreasing the need for painkillers. It was also shown that a peaceful birth fosters a happy relationship between mother and child. In addition to listening to the song also plays an important role: it helps the mother to control your breathing and, at the same time, teaches her to care for the child because the mother's voice (and father) to help the fetus grow strong and healthy. The production of endorphins due to the hand, also reduces the mother's perception of pain. It is possible, then, accompanied with musical instruments: those without theoretical basis can choose simple percussion instruments with which accommodate the rhythm of music.

Source

The study by Mei-Yueh Chang ...