Women's experiences of pain relief and easing intensity through vocalisations during childbirth: A qualitative study

Childbirth pain is an individual and diverse experience; it differs from other pain as it is productive and purposeful. Some women do like to give birth without pharmacological pain relief. These women use diverse coping strategies and tools. One tool is vocalisations like vocal-toning, to master childbirth.

To explore, explain and interpret women's experience with vocalisations to master the intensity and pain during childbirth.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 women postpartum. These women had a physiological birth free from pharmacological pain relief and vocalised. Braun and Clarke's Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data.

Four themes emerged: 'Changing the pain experience through sound', outlines the ease of pain during vocal-toning. 'Balancing internal birthing intensity by using sound', describes the experienced relief of internal pressure and intensity through vocalisations. 'Experiencing tricky moments while vocal-toning', provides detailed insights in moments when the pain can rise, by taking a breath or losing the 'right' tone. 'Mastering the childbirth process with sound as an essential element: "the number one means of coping with pain"' portrays the experienced meaningfulness of sound work for childbirth.

Vocalisations eased the intensity and pain or made it more bearable for the participants. It were combined with other coping strategies and tools, but vocalisations were essential for nearly all participants to master childbirth. Midwives and other birth companions can support women in finding the 'right' tone through joined vocal-toning, indicating a deeper sound.