labor music?

[newbie_mary]

Obviously, it's a matter of taste, but for those of you who have been through it before, I'm interested in hearing what kind of music you used during labor, if any. I'm thinking that it would help to distract me, because it always works for me at the dentist's office -- relaxes me and takes my mind completely away from whatever they're doing (and I'm usually a panicky mess)! I know that some people say that it's better to be in touch with your body during labor, too. So I'd be interested in hearing both sides, and specific types of music recommendations, as well.

Thanks,
Mary

[PinkPixie]

I find in early labor tv or music are fine. But when active labor starts, your mind goes into a concentration trance and any noise is distracting. When I am in active labor I loose my concentration if people talk or if there is music. And, when that happens, the contractions hurt more.
I vote for total silence in active labor.

[mamameg]

I enjoyed music during labor last time. I brought a bunch of different cd's, not knowing what I would like and I found I gravitated to a Maxwell CD that I hardly ever listen to normally. I liked the mellow r&b beat and his voice is really smooth. Plus, there is a version of "This Woman's Work" (about labor and childbirth, also motherhood) that I LOVE and it just all sounded good to me. I'll have it around this time, too, but I assume my music choices might be a bit different, given I will be much more relaxed this time (at home, no pit or other interventions).

[nighten]

I've got several relaxation CDs and some world music/drumming CDs that I plan to have on hand just in case I want them while in labor, but I understand I might not want anything -- it's different for each individual, I've heard, so I just plan to have them handy.

(Hehe I feel like I'm in college and planning a road trip -- gotta have my toys and tunes!)

Here's some of the ones I can think of off the top of my head:

Trance Planet Vol 2
Ayub Ogada
Earth Tribe Rhythms
Mickey Hart
Deep Forest (the orig one)
Assorted massage/relaxation CDs
maybe some various reggae for early on?
ditto w/Putumayo collections?

DH made the baby a mixed CD for Christmas that I've played for her in utero from time to time, so I'll have it handy too, but likely won't listen to it once heavy labor gets going, because I get distracted by lyrics too easily.

So that's why the CDs I have in mind don't have easily understood lyrics, or lyrics at all in some cases. If it's oh say African music then I don't have to pay attention to the words, just the sound. And I think that'll be better, but that's just me. I can't listen to "normal" music to go to sleep either -- I end up straining to hear the words. Does that make sense? I know we're not talking about going to sleep but I keep thinking labor's very trancey (as PP said) therefore I don't want to get distracted out of it.

So the drumming stuff is if I need rhythmic sounds and the relaxation music is if I need calming. But truthfully I think there will come a time when I'll just want the music off. But that's just me.

[JefsJen]

well, so far the only one I have really CHOSEN to use for SURE would be Enya's Watermark. I have a relaxation CD but I tried doing yoga to it a couple of weeks ago and to be honest, the nature sounds were great, but the musical accompaniment was terrible. Well, maybe not THAT bad, but I just didn't like it. I also have a copy of Andreas Vollenweider's CD...can't remember what it was called.....OH, Cosmopoly. I reallly enjoy it...there are some songs on it that might not be appropriate...kinda silly, so I might actually just end up taking the songs from Enya and that one and burning my own combo. I have some other songs off a few different CD's that I would like to have on there too. Celestial Sodapop by Ray Lynch...from his Deep Breakfast CD. I love that stuff.

But again, the only one I have actually picked out for sure is Enya. Number 8. That's all I know. LOL

[radicalmama]

Popping in from May...

For my births I've always had the music ready to go according to mood, so anyone around would clearly know what was what...

I literally labelled CD's - quiet relaxation, intense energy, happy, emotional, bonding, birth, etc...and made mixes appropriate to each...

I did like music during transition, with my first I had on some intense Peter Gabriel, and I just kind of got lost in it and myself (4 hour unmedicated labor as a teenager).

I really like the Transitions CD, for just spacing out and to have on softly when babe is born (it has womb and heartbeat sounds and feels very comforting).

[2+twins]

I had a few songs picked out that I wanted to listen to during labor (for my first). Turned out that I was very introverted and required absolutely no sound, touch, etc. in order to stay on top of the contrax, so I never used it. Didn't use it w/my 2nd either - same scenario. Oh, and I've never experienced early labor - just active - so that could be part of it too (I might have enjoyed the music earlier in labor if it happened that way).

[giarose]

I made myself an early labor CD for my first labor. And boy am I glad I did, because the m/w put in some Kenny G and I went beserk! It's music that I listened to throughout the entire labor, mix of random songs, pretty mellow, mostly slow, by:
Stan Getz
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Bebel Gilberto
Angelique Kidjo
Tom Ze
Mercedes Sosa
Hayden
Yo La Tengo
Lucinda Williams
Joni Mitchell
Beth Orton
and a few others off the top of my head.
Ds loves to listen to this CD still two years later!

For me, I couldn't tolerate any noise, like talking, but music was fine. It helped me concentrate.