The Use of Music Therapy in the Prenatal and Postnatal Period

Pregnancy is a period characterized by physical, hormonal and emotional changes. With conception, profound physiological changes occur in many organs and systems of the mother during pregnancy. These changes are not only physiological but also psychological. Pregnant women are particularly affected by stress during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. At the same time, expectant mothers may experience indecision, frequent mood swings from exhaustion to euphoria, and many psychological disorders such as emotional disturbances or mixed anxiety-depressive disorder. Music therapy, which is a form of treatment aiming at the physical, mental and psychological integration of the patient, is one of the methods used as support during pregnancy. Music therapy is known to have positive effects on the mood and well-being of the mother, with positive effects such as reducing anxiety in pregnant women, improving birth quality and supporting maternal-fetal bonding. It has also been shown to have specific positive effects in the postnatal period, such as reducing pain and anxiety and increasing satisfaction, as well as being beneficial in emotional, intellectual, psychological, physiological and social domains. The aim of this review is to examine the use of music therapy in the prenatal and postnatal period in line with the literature.