“This was about restoring humanity to the labour room”
Indian music may have a role in modern maternity care as a study suggests it strikes a healing chord in labour rooms.
The pioneering trial at the Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) in Mohali has found that structured Indian music therapy can significantly reduce pain and anxiety in women during active labour.
The study, which is the first of its kind in India, says expectant mothers who listened to carefully selected Indian music alongside routine obstetric care experienced a 27% drop in labour pain and nearly a 67% reduction in anxiety.
These benefits persisted even after the intervention ended.
Led by AIMS Director Principal Dr Bhavneet Bharti, the research challenges the perception of music as merely a comforting background element, positioning it instead as a clinically effective, non-invasive therapeutic tool.
“This was about restoring humanity to the labour room”, Dr Bharti explained, adding that emotional safety is as critical as medical protocols for positive birth outcomes.
The idea for the trial emerged from earlier efforts at AIMS to improve early breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact.
Despite strong clinical systems, outcomes varied widely.
The team realised that fear, stress and anxiety in labour rooms were undermining these initiatives.
Addressing the emotional environment, they felt, was key to strengthening respectful maternity care.
A major boost to the project came from Dr Anjali, a physician with advanced training in Indian classical music, psychology and music therapy.
Her expertise helped convert music from a general soothing measure into a structured intervention grounded in neuroscience and cultural familiarity.
Interestingly, the programme was first introduced to labour room nurses rather than patients.
The response was immediate and positive.
Nurses reported feeling calmer and more emotionally balanced, which improved communication and the overall atmosphere of the ward. Their acceptance proved crucial in integrating music therapy into daily clinical practice.
The trial was conducted with rigorous scientific standards.
A total of 117 women in active labour, all with low-risk, singleton pregnancies, were randomly assigned to receive either standard care or standard care combined with music therapy.
Participants in the intervention group listened to raga-based Indian music through headphones for about 30 minutes, with selections tailored to their emotional state.
Pain and anxiety levels were measured using internationally validated scales at multiple points.
The results were striking: while pain and anxiety increased in the control group as labour progressed, both declined significantly among women who received music therapy.
Statistical analysis confirmed that music was the strongest independent factor associated with these improvements.
Beyond the numbers, qualitative feedback was equally telling.
Mothers described feeling less fearful and more in control of the birthing process. Healthcare staff observed smoother interactions and a calmer pace of care.
Dr Bharti noted:
“In a way, the music ended up caring for the caregivers too.”
The initiative, aptly named Melodies of Motherhood, was a collaborative effort involving specialists from obstetrics, psychiatry, community medicine, nursing and social work at AIMS.
With its encouraging findings, the team hopes the study will inspire wider adoption of culturally rooted, patient-friendly interventions in maternity services across the country.
As hospitals increasingly seek ways to humanise childbirth without adding cost or risk, this research suggests that an age-old art form may hold modern clinical value, one soothing note at a time.
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