Auricular Acupressure With Music Therapy Reduces Labor Pain and Postpartum Depression

BACKGROUND: Labor pain and postpartum depression (PPD) are prevalent peripartum complications affecting mothers globally. Conventional interventions for pain management are often limited by contraindications or side effects. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the effects of auricular acupressure combined with five-element music therapy (FEMT) in alleviating labor pain and reducing PPD incidence. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 146 parturients with singleton cephalic pregnancy preparing for vaginal delivery. Participants were randomly assigned to either the treatment group (auricular acupressure at five points: Internal Genitals, Shenmen, Endocrine, Sympathetic and Subcortex, combined with FEMT) or the control group (routine care). Auricular acupressure was administered during labor until 2 h postpartum, while FEMT involved listening to five-element music. Pain level was evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and PPD incidence was assessed via Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores at 1 and 6 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: The treatment group exhibited significantly lower median NRS scores at 6 cm cervical dilation (6 vs. 8, P < 0.001) and 10 cm dilation (7 vs. 9, P < 0.001). At 1 week postpartum, the treatment group had lower EPDS scores (8 vs. 9, P = 0.036), with reduced PPD incidence (15.1% vs. 32.9%, P = 0.012) and major PPD incidence (6.8% vs. 19.2%, P = 0.027). No significant differences in PPD rates were observed at 6 weeks postpartum. Neonatal outcomes and intrapartum cesarean rates were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of auricular acupressure and FEMT effectively alleviated labor pain and reduced short-term PPD incidence.