There are many valuable tools to aid relaxation during labor. Creating a calm environment can help a woman to feel safe and relaxed, especially when transitioning from home to hospital. Listening to music can really help her to focus and a recent study shows that music reduces the sensation of pain and decreases her emotional distress during labor.


Study Finds Music Can Ease Labor Pain
Music can help reduce sensation of pain and decrease a woman's emotional distress during labor, according to a research study conducted by Sasitorn Phumdoung, a graduate of Case Western Reserve University's France Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and published in an issue of the medical journal, Pain Management Nursing.

The study included two groups of primigravid, laboring women in their 20s—including a group who listened to calming music for three hours after they were 3–4 cm dilated and the control group, who had no music during labor. The research showed that the women in the music group had "significantly less sensation and distress pain" than women in the control group. Phumdoung found that soft music had a two-fold effect on the women—decreasing the pain sensations in active labor and also delaying an increase in pain sensations for an hour after the music was turned off.

— Phumdoung, S. 2003. "Music reduces sensation and distress of labor pain." Pain Management Nursing, 4(2): 54–61.

Taking a good birth preperation class outside of the hospital setting is very valuable for women to know they have options. Many of our members give classes that can be extremely helpful. Hypnobirthing and Hypnobabies, claim to help women experience birth without fear and pain. They reframe negative birth words, such as contractions to surges and provide women with tools to go within. 

Taking a class focusing on "comfort measures" gives couples tools for natural pain management, great for those committed to avoiding pain medication. This class is also great for early labor, which is done at home, even if one is planning to get meds later on. 
These tools will help mom to cope as she progresses to active labor.