Biological: Music changes biology- is used to support a laboring mother to regulate breathing, lower blood pressure and respiration, and decrease discomfort.
Psychological: Music enhances the ability to use coping mechanisms during labor (childbirth techniques), and may seem as though that time is passing than it is.
Sociological: Music can be use to match or affirm moods and feelings the laboring mother is experiencing (iso principle) or may be used to help her change her mood.
Developmental: Music can support the process of becoming a mother, help her to work through her fears and to let go.
Spiritual: Music can enhance and support spiritual processes of the laboring mother and may evoke a peak or transpersonal experience.
Environmental: Music can be very important in blocking out extraneous sounds in birth environment that may interfere with the laboring woman's entrainment process. Music also provides a "sound blanket" which fills the space and wraps the birthing mother in sounds of comfort and safety.
*Some or all of these processes may be experienced by the birth mother and her support team.