Effect of Music-Based Interventions on Maternal and Fetal Parameters during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Music is a non-pharmacological intervention often used to improve maternal mental health during pregnancy. However, there is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of music-based interventions on maternal and fetal parameters during pregnancy. We present a systematic review of the available research literature on the effects of music interventions on maternal and fetal parameters. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on the Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane, ProQuest, and Turkish databases. The review included randomized controlled and quasi-experimental studies. Two independent authors evaluated the methodological quality of each study using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. The study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018102914). Results: The literature review yielded a total of 723 studies. Among these studies, 13 were included in this study. Most of the studies involving low-risk pregnant women reported that music had no effect on stress but reduced anxiety and depression. The effect of music on pregnant women’s blood pressure varied depending on the presence of medical conditions that could affect their blood pressure. While some studies showed that music interventions effectively increased fetal movement and acceleration, the available findings were limited. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals can use simple, cost-effective, and practical music interventions to improve maternal mental health during pregnancy without neglecting medical treatment. Future well-designed studies are recommended to investigate the effects of music on maternal psychological, physiological parameters and fetal parameters in high-risk pregnancies.