Music-listening to support the childbirth experience

Chapter 8 starts with a description of music-listening in childbirth, followed by a summary of related outcomes, evidence, and theories to support its use. The impacts of music-listening are illustrated through presentation of two short vignettes based on two women’s personal accounts of giving birth in a public maternity hospital in Ireland. Together these describe the empowering and positive contribution of music-listening to childbirth in ways that directly respond to the women’s wishes, preferences, and overall maternal wellbeing. The chapter concludes with key considerations and practical implications for people giving birth and for healthcare practitioners on optimal use of music-listening in labour, specifically relating to the design and use of a customised playlist for childbirth. The chapter concludes that music-listening can enhance perinatal mental wellbeing as it supports women and birthing people to harness internal resources to face the challenges of childbirth.