share your birthing music!

[tabitha]

hi!

i am getting there, (17 more days till i am 'due') and because i have so much spare time on my hands :LOL i decided to compile some discs of music in case i want to listen in labor or shortly after. Many songs i have chosen because of my familiarity eith them and the meaning they have in my life, and a whole disc i chose because it is wonderfully relaxing and brings fond memories of my first son's birth...

but i wanted to ask other mamas to share their favorite birthing music so that i can listen and maybe add it to my collection. just the artist or song title is ok, i can look it up!

my first birth was in the hospital, and music was not realistic though we brought a portable cd player and discs. my doula did turn it on right after, though- the first part of the disc she chose always makes me cry and remember tristans birth.

this time we are at home, and i will feel more at ease moving around and creating my birth environment. anyway, thanks in advance for sharing!

tabitha

[anothermama]

I labored on Monday and most of the time was listening to Elliott Smiths "XO" album. We also have a mix cd I made of love songs from our wedding reception that we played a little during labor as well.

[KKmama]

Simon and Garfunkel... and it seemed to put everyone (including dr., doula, nurses) in a really good mood, and they were singing along...

[SaraC]

Both times I thought of playing music but never got around to it. I am thinking for the next one I will make a few cds. One with upbeat music for early labor, a relaxing one to relax by, and maybe a rock cd. I love hard rock music and I think it would just be nice to have a cd that I really like to listen to any other time and that would remind me of my birth.

[stafl]

I couldn't handle music with lyrics during labor, had to be instrumental and complex enough that I could lose myself in it.
Bela Fleck was playing during labor and as my baby was born.

[abigailvr]

Enya. Over and over. I sometimes wonder if it drove DH nuts.

[curlygrrl]

During my labor with DS, there was only one CD I listened to. Deva Primal's Love is Space. My prenatal yoga teacher played it a lot and it really sent me into "the zone" so I knew it would help me in labor. Be careful what you chose, I found that it was too emotional to listen to that CD after it was all over with, I couldn't listen to it without bursting into tears.

Tamara

[3_opihi]

Mickey Hart's (drummer from the Grateful Dead) Music to be born by

This is an awesome cd of drumming made to sound exactly like a human heartbeat. It's also really great for soothing the baby after he/she is born.

[carrots]

nothing with lyrics. i quickly learned that it drove me freakin' nuts :
a bit of enya and george winston. mostly though it had to be absolutely quiet!!!!! no one was allowed to make a peep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dharmama]

This is an awesome cd of drumming made to sound exactly like a human heartbeat. It's also really great for soothing the baby after he/she is born.

It actually is a human heartbeat -- his son Taro's recorded in utero. It's one of the CDs I have packed in my bag. I also have Birth Chants (bought it through Janine Parviti Baker's Web site) and a bunch of CDs I use for my yoga classes.

Not sure which one (if any) I will actually use but I want to have some options.

~Erin

[Changed]

James Taylor and a little Tom Petty. I know.....

[hipmamawnc]

The drumming on this cd is actually done with a recording of Mickey Harts unborn baby's heartbeat

[3_opihi]

T His son's name is Taro? Like the sweet potato type thing that you make poi from? That's cute!

[mom2threenurslings]

During my last labor, while at home I listened to Enya and Dead Can Dance. I brought CDs to the birth center with me, but ended up listening to my dh snore (I was in the tub, he was on a birth stool, leaning on the tub, sleeping!) and my mom and kids sing "Little Bunny Foo Foo" in the other room! I didn't want to wake my dh (who had slept an entire hour after working 12 and being up for 9 hours before working!) and was having such a wonderful time floating and laboring that I didn't mind!

I recently got a Birth Chants cd through attachmentscatalog.com and love it. I can totally envision listening to it while in labor.

[Leilalu]

I plan on listening to Iona
And more Iona
And more Iona

[SpiralChrissy]

I listened to The Indigo Girls mostly. I love them and it was great distraction. I also have a meditation tape about birth from Bella Ruth Naperstack (not sure I spelled her last name right).
Good luck to you!
Chrissy

[carrots]

Taro is a traditional Japanese name. It means first born boy. I'm guessing that is the direction they were leaning when they named their son. I think it is beautiful and considered it for our first, but we had a girl.

[pamamidwife]

I always say that the music that gets you in the mood to create the baby will be the same music that will get you in the mood to birth!

[newmainer]

I agree with whoever said they needed something complex they could lose themselves in. My dh used to sing in an amazing acappella choir that mostly does traditional sacred music. they have a couple of CD's out, plus we have a bunch of other choir music. Talus Scholars are really great.

[crazy_eights]

Van Morrison. But probably only for early labor.