What You Need to Know About Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth

sophiesplace3
Aug 7, 2023
2 min read

Whether you’ve heard of Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth or not, this blog post will help you understand some of its applications and benefits and decide whether it’s right for you!

What is Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth?

Music therapy Assisted Childbirth is a certification that music therapists can earn to become certified to, well…assist in childbirth.

MTAC is designed to help mothers manage pain, breathing and stress throughout their birthing experience. It involves the music therapist being with the mother during the childbirth experience and using relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and movement exercises (all with music as its medium) to assist in labor. The music therapist can even use rhythm to support the mother’s natural birthing rhythm.

Music therapists often use patient preferred music in their practice and this kind of music can be comforting and stress relieving for a mother in labor.

What are the benefits?

According to Sound Birthing LLC, some of the benefits of MTAC are:

Decreased anxiety and discomfort responses during pregnancy and labor.

Diminished need for pain medications during labor and birth.

Reported overall positive feelings about labor and birth experience.

Enhanced bonding and connection between parents and babies.

How does a music therapist become certified?

Sound Birthing LLC, is a continuing education provider for music therapists that offers the course in Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth. In fact MTACB is just one of 6 courses provided by Sound Birthing! The other courses include care for mothers experiencing the prenatal and postnatal phases of their child’s birth.

To become certified a music therapist signs up for the course and engages in 6 weeks of reading, writing, discussion, and practice assignments. There is also a 9-hour online session that includes practicing birthing scenarios. Music therapists who are certified can offer this assistance to mothers in hospitals, birthing centers, and home birthing environments.