European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background -Listening to music prior to feeding mothers’ own milk tothe newborncalms down anxiety and beats stress, making the mother happy and relieved. This increase in the supply of mother’s own milk may be attributed to stress relief in postpartum period.
Research aim-The primary objective was to assess the post partum depression based on validated Edinburgh post partum depression scale. The secondary objective was to study the effect of listening to music on human milk production during the first postnatal week.
Methods- A case- control study involving 60 lactating mothers was performed in a tertiary hospital. Among these participants, 30 mothers were given relaxing music prior to mothers’ own milkfeeding to the newborn. The amount of human milk produced was compared to controls. Post partum stress was also evaluated with postpartum depression scales in both groups.
Results –The control group showed an average milk of 31.30/22.60 ml (mean/SD). Case group showed an average milk of 60.50/25.30 ml (mean/SD), which was significantly 
higher than control group (p<0.0001). Standard validated Edinburgh post partum depression questionnaire found that there was a significant effect of music on prevention of post partum depression.
Conclusion-Listening to relaxing, calm music before breastfeeding reduces the odds of post partum depression and increases the quantity of human milk production in term lactating mothers.