Authors (including presenting author) :
Tao MTM(1), Hung WS(1), Ho HL(1), Yip MY(1), Ng NC(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology , Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
Childbirth is a pivotal life event that, despite its joy, also brings significant physical and emotional stress for new mothers. Common stressors include anxiety about newborn’s health, concerns regarding breastfeeding, such as worries about insufficient breast milk, discomfort from perineal or abdominal wounds, and lack of sleep. Music intervention has been widely used in numerous areas with both physiological and psychological effects to subjects. It is believed that auditory stimulation via music occupies neurotransmitters, helps diverting anxiety. Starting from February 2024, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital implemented naptime period with hypnotic music for mothers in postnatal ward. This intervention aims to create a calm environment that alleviates stress and promotes relaxation.
Objectives :
To enhance relaxation by creating calm environment for postnatal women.
To evaluate the effectiveness of hypnotic music in reducing maternal anxiety.
To improve mothers’ breastfeeding experiences during the postnatal period.
Methodology :
Soft theta wave music (4–8 Hz) was broadcasted in postnatal ward during designated naptime, from 14:00 to 15:00 daily. A calm environment was established by minimizing interruptions to postnatal women. Results were evaluated through a self-designed questionnaire, assessing the intervention's impact on women’s experiences. Women who experienced hypnotic music had undergone pre-and post-test measures about their perception of stress level using a 0-10 rating scale. Perceptions about the effectiveness of the hypnotic music in promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, and enhancing breastfeeding experiences were rated by participants.
Result & Outcome :
Data was collected from February to May 2024. Total 100 subjects were recruited. The evaluation revealed encouraging results with 33% of respondents strongly agreed and 67% agreed that hypnotic music facilitated relaxation for both mothers and newborns, while 39% of respondents strongly agreed and 55% agreed that it helped them nap. Additionally, 93% of participants felt hypnotic music enhanced bonding with their newborns and 91% of them had decreased breastfeeding anxiety. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in maternal stress level, with pre-intervention mean score of 4.90 (SD=2.59) decreasing to post-intervention mean score of 3.04 (SD=2.64) (p<0.05 under paired t-test). Importantly, all 100 participants expressed their strong support for the continuation of music intervention in postnatal ward.
The introduction of hypnotic music in postnatal ward effectively improved mothers' stress management and overall satisfaction of their postnatal experience. It highlights the importance of creating a calm environment to support the emotional health of new mothers.
