Aalborg maternity ward reduces nitrous oxide use in favour of music therapy for pain relief
A maternity ward in Aalborg, Denmark, has cut nitrous oxide use by five percent by offering music therapy as an alternative pain management method during childbirth, reducing its carbon footprint by approximately 55 tonnes of CO₂, DR reports.
The initiative, launched in January last year, aims to lower the environmental impact of pain relief while ensuring expectant mothers still receive effective care. “Our concern has always been to avoid reducing the quality of care,” said Line Hundebøl Nielsen, head midwife at the ward. “No mother should feel she’s getting a worse experience by choosing us.”
Music therapy, which includes breathing exercises and calming rhythms, has gained popularity among expectant mothers. Cecilie Alexandra Østergaard, who gave birth at the ward, found the technique unexpectedly effective. “If I hadn’t used breathing and music from the start, the contractions would have been much harder,” she said. Though she initially chose music therapy to stay present during labour—not for environmental reasons—she supports the ward’s sustainability efforts. “It’s important we use as little [nitrous oxide] as possible.”
Sanne Storm, the music therapist leading the programme, explained that the method helps women “activate the brain’s natural pain-relieving substances.” She noted that most participants are motivated by a desire for self-control during childbirth rather than climate concerns. “If you know how to find calm breathing, you have something you can control,” Storm said.
While the ward fell short of its original emissions target, achieving only a fifth of its goal, Hundebøl Nielsen remains optimistic. “Five percent is still significant,” she said, adding that further reductions of 10–15 percent would have a meaningful long-term impact. The ward plans to continue promoting music therapy and educating staff on the climate impact of nitrous oxide, though the gas remains available to all mothers who request it.