Efficacy of Music Therapy and Zingiber officinale Roscoe Aromatherapy for Reducing Pain during the First Stage of Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pontip Paoin; Pichita Prasongvej; Athita  Chanthasenanont; Titchayakorn  Niumpradit; Densak Pongrojpaw; Komsun  Suwannarurk

doi:10.33192/smj.v75i10.263860

Authors

Pontip Paoin Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Pichita Prasongvej Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Athita Chanthasenanont Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Titchayakorn Niumpradit Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Densak Pongrojpaw Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Komsun Suwannarurk Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33192/smj.v75i10.263860

Keywords:

labor pain, music therapy, aromatherapy

Abstract

Objective: To study the pain-reducing effect of music therapy and aromatherapy with ginger essential oil (GEO; Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in the first stage of labor.

Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted from May to October 2022 in the delivery room of Thammasat University Hospital in Thailand. Participants were nulliparous pregnant women who came with actual labor pain and cervical dilation of 3 cm. They were divided into three groups: control, music, and aromatherapy. The control group received intrapartum care according to hospital guidelines, while participants in the music group listened to a "Musical Journey through Pregnancy" music playlist, and the aromatherapy group inhaled GEO. A visual analog scale was used for pain assessment every 2 hours. Interventions and pain assessment continued until the end of the first stage of labor or until cesarean section was indicated.

Results: Three hundred pregnant women were recruited. The mean age of the participants was 27.7 years old, and no difference in BMI among the three groups. Participants in the music and aromatherapy group had statistically significantly less labor pain than participants in the control group when cervical dilation was between 4 and 7 cm (6,1±0.7, 1.9±0.7, 2.6±0.4 when cervical dilation was 4-5 cm and 8.0±0.7, 2.8±0.4, 3.6±0.3 when cervical dilation was 6-7 cm in the control, music, and aromatherapy groups, respectively (p < 0.001). However, at cervical dilation of 8-10 cm, there was no difference among the three groups regarding labor pain. Both intervention groups had significantly shorter labor time and less estimated blood loss during vaginal delivery than the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Music and aromatherapy decreased labor pain, labor time, and estimated blood loss compared to the control group.

References

Peter HP. Obstetric pain. In: McMahon S, Koltzenburg M, Tracey I, Turk DC, editors. Wall and Melzack's textbook of pain. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders; 2013. p.772-92.

Czech I, Fuchs P, Fuchs A, Lorek M, Tobolska-Lorek D, Drosdzol-Cop A, et al. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of labour pain relief-establishment of effectiveness and comparison. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;5:2792-802.

Thomson G, Feeley C, Moran VH, Downe S, Oladapo OT. Women's experiences of pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain relief methods for labour and childbirth: a qualitative systematic review. Reprod Health. 2019;16:71-90.

Zanfini BA, Catarci S, Vassalli F, Laurita Longo V, Biancone M, Carducci B, et al. The effect of epidural analgesia on labour and neonatal and maternal outcomes in 1, 2a, 3, and 4a Robson's classes: a propensity score-matched analysis. J Clin Med. 2022;11:614-32.

Smith CA, Levett KM, Collins CT, Armour M, Dahlen HG, Suganuma M. Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3:CD009514.

Santiváñez-Acosta R, Tapia-López ELN, Santero M. Music therapy in pain and anxiety management during labor: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2020;56:526-36.

Buglione A, Saccone G, Mas M, Raffone A, Di Meglio L, Toscano P, et al. Effect of music on labor and delivery in nulliparous singleton pregnancies: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2020;301:693-8.

Lunde SJ, Vuust P, Garza-Villarreal EA, Vase L. Music-induced analgesia: how does music relieve pain. Pain. 2019;160:989-93.

Teckenberg-Jansson P, Turunen S, Pölkki T, Lauri-Haikala M-J, Lipsanen J, Henelius A, et al. Effects of live music therapy on heart rate variability and self-reported stress and anxiety among hospitalized pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial. Nord J Music Ther. 2019;28:7-26.

Garcia Gonzalez J, Ventura Miranda MI, Requena Mullor M, Parron Carreno T, Alarcon Rodriguez R. Effects of prenatal music stimulation on state/trait anxiety in full-term pregnancy and its influence on childbirth: a randomized controlled trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018;31:1058-65.

Tabatabaeichehr M, Mortazavi H. The effectiveness of aromatherapy in the management of labor pain and anxiety: a systematic review. Ethiop J Health Sci 2020; 30: 449-58.

Bertone AC, Dekker RL. Aromatherapy in obstetrics: a critical review of the literature. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2021;64:572-88.

Andrei C, Zanfirescu A, Nițulescu GM, Negreș S. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the analgesic effect of ginger. Nutraceuticals. 2022;2:384-403.

Tanvisut R, Traisrisilp K, Tongsong T. Efficacy of aromatherapy for reducing pain during labor: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018;297:1145-50.

Guo H, Que M, Shen J, Nie Q, Chen Y, Huang Q, et al. Effect of music therapy combined with free position delivery on labor pain and birth outcomes. Appl Bionics Biomech. 2022;2022:8963656.

Hamdamian S, Nazarpour S, Simbar M, Hajian S, Mojab F, Talebi A. Effects of aromatherapy with Rosa damascena on nulliparous women's pain and anxiety of labor during first stage of labor. J Integr Med. 2018;16:120-5.

Hosseini SE, Bagheri M, Honarparvaran N. Investigating the effect of music on labor pain and progress in the active stage of first labor. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013;17:1479-87.

Xavier T, Viswanath L. Effect of music therapy on labor pain among women in active labor admitted in tertiary care hospital Kochi. Int J Intg Med Sci. 2016;3:444-8.

Yazdkhasti M, Pirak A. The effect of aromatherapy with lavender essence on severity of labor pain and duration of labor in primiparous women. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016;25 81.

Wongdama S, Siriussawakul A, Ratta-apha W, Suraprasit P, Kanjanapiboon K, Thanakiattiwibun C, et al. Effects of Music on Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Hair Transplantation. Siriraj Med J. 2023;75:13-9.