Proceedings, Oxford, UK (2002) - World Federation of Music Therapy

connection of body and mind in dealing with the pain and anxiety of
childbirth.
As you just heard, music therapy can be very effective prenatally to
encourage relaxation, positive imagery, and communication with the
unborn child. During labour and childbirth, music therapy has been used
by mothers as a coping strategy to provide a focus for relaxation, a sense
of control, and a distraction from the pain of labour. Familiar music
chosen by the mother tends to “normalize” the environment. It is a non-
medical, non-invasive method, which has been shown to be very
effective in enhancing the birth experience for mothers, babies, and their
families. Postnatally, mothers have found the same music very
comforting, and they have used it to settle their infants when nursing or
putting them to sleep. Mothers will use it for their own benefit as well,
finding the music soothing for their own meditation or naptime.
Labour Support, What Is It?
As mentioned in the film, I am also a certified doula. Although the term
“doula” is well known in some areas, there are still many people who
have never heard of these dedicated women who are trained in labour
support and help women to discover and draw on their own strengths. To
quote DONA, the organization most recognized in the training of doulas
in North America, a doula is “a woman experienced in childbirth who
provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to
the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.” Doulas of North
America (DONA) have a website offering information for those
interested in knowing more about labour support.
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