Effects of Rhythm-Based Music on Pregnancies With Gestational Diabetes

This study is for people who have gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that happens during pregnancy. People with gestational diabetes may feel more anxious than others during pregnancy. This anxiety can affect their health and their baby's health.

The goal of this study is to see if rhythm-based music can help lower anxiety and improve blood sugar and stress hormone levels. Music may be a safe and low-cost way to support emotional and physical health during pregnancy.

Researchers will test two types of music activities:

Listening to rhythm-based music

Doing rhythm-based music and breathing exercises

The study will include 180 pregnant participants. They will be randomly placed into one of three groups. Each group will be at a different hospital to prevent crossover. Two groups will receive music activities, and the third group will receive usual care.

Participants will stay in the hospital for 3 days. During that time:

Anxiety will be measured on day 1 and day 3 using a short questionnaire

Blood sugar will be measured 3 times a day (morning, afternoon, evening)

Saliva samples will be collected on day 3 to measure cortisol (a stress hormone)

Researchers will also record any medications used by participants.

This study may show that music helps lower anxiety and improve health for people with gestational diabetes. It may also support the use of music as a helpful, non-drug option during pregnancy.