Music For Labor

[alicia9178]

I am building up my I-Tunes and want suggestions. What do you plan to listen to in labor if you plan to have music.
Alicia

[rach03]

I am so glad you asked this! I want to know, too! I just got an iPod a few weeks ago and would love to have a labor playlist

[holothuroidea]

I was just going to turn on the classic rock station and rock out.

Hey, is dancing good for labor? I'd like to dance my way into transition.

No, I have no idea what labor is going to be like so I'll just have my laptop with me with all of my music on it and probably the radio too. Maybe, keep a variety of songs with you so if your mood changes you've got music for it.

[rach03]

LOL, I'm sure dancing is great!

I'm thinking I will need some powerful rock-type music as well. I'll have all my normal stuff on there in case I want to change, but I can't see myself wanting calm soft music. I need to jam.

[goldfinch]

Good question! And let me tell ya, it *is* important. My last pg ended with an emergency c-section at 33.5 weeks, so we didn't bring our own music or even think about expressing a preference in the OR... so my twins were delivered to the sweet strains of...





....CROCODILE ROCK!
Yeah, um, NOT what I would have chosen!

[holothuroidea]

Originally Posted by goldfinch

....CROCODILE ROCK!
Yeah, um, NOT what I would have chosen!

Waaaaaaa-lalalala-laaaaaa!



I also just pictured my self screaming during pushing with "Shout at the Devil" playing in the background. LOL

I think I'll need something energetic, and nothing depressing. I think Crocodile Rock would do just fine!

Oh hey, whatabout some ragtime. I'm totally blasting the Maple Leaf Rag through my labor! Yeah!

Oh boy, I won't subject you guys to my taste in music any further.

[Sarah W]

Dave Matthews Band all the way! I can't imagine anything else.

ETA-I'm sure that wasn't helpful to you at all. : I know people have talked about Enya and music like that, because it's calming.

[zonapellucida]

I listened to tribal music with lots of drums. I prefer primitive music while birthing.

[AKA_PI]

I was just talking to my partner about this. I'm not sure what type of music. Probably some jazz. They actually have built music systems in the delivery room so we'll just plug the i-Pod in and go!

[Surfer Rosa]

I never listened to my carefully crafted playlists last time, but it was nice knowing that music was an option. I made two: one mellow (no lyrics, soothing stuff), and one hyper/energetic.
I don't think I noticed anything beyond what my body was doing by the time we got to the hospital-I was in some sort of primal wookie cave...

[holothuroidea]

Originally Posted by fridgeart

I never listened to my carefully crafted playlists last time, but it was nice knowing that music was an option. I made two: one mellow (no lyrics, soothing stuff), and one hyper/energetic.
I don't think I noticed anything beyond what my body was doing by the time we got to the hospital-I was in some sort of primal wookie cave...

I've heard a lot of stories like this, where you somewhat loose conscious thought or your conscious mind goes to "another place" during labor. I don't see that happening to me but it sounds like a pretty cool experience, despite the pain. I guess you really have to focus your energy. Wow, it all just sounds so crazy to me!

I like the tribal music idea! Although, I think I would be too inclined to paint my face up and start carving spears or something.

[moonstruck]

Originally Posted by fridgeart

I never listened to my carefully crafted playlists last time, but it was nice knowing that music was an option. I made two: one mellow (no lyrics, soothing stuff), and one hyper/energetic.
I don't think I noticed anything beyond what my body was doing by the time we got to the hospital-I was in some sort of primal wookie cave...

Exactly. I carefully planned music, was all excited about the jetted tub, which I DEFINITELY thought I'd use, birthing ball ....um, all I did was pace and pace and pace and pace around that room like a tiger at the zoo in a small cage, lol. Definitely couldn't have cared less was music was playing; I think we did play some but honestly can't remember for sure. I was like--PLAY WHATEVER YOU WANT---pace, pace pace, pace, LOL.

[apelilae]

I didn't use music last time. I had a playlist created. I'm big on the intelligent RnB and Rap (not the junkie HO, B*tch kind) and on mellow rock. I felt I'd need two things: uplifting music with a great beat to keep my energy up and mellow music that allowed me to relax.

[Nicole_ac]

Personally, all I wanted was silence and quietness around.

[meredyth0315]

It's neat to read everyone's choices. I like a little bit of everything, but honestly I don't know if I'll want something laid back like Dave Matthews whom I love, or something hard like Disturbed for motivation. I'm also a Jimmy Buffet fan, so who knows. I may want silence. I have a list on projectplaylist.com I may just download, has all sorts of music from Jimmy, to Missy Elliot to the Beastie Boys... and uh maybe a Celine Dion song (A New Day), too

[fyoosh]

With my son, I planned on laboring through Peter Gabriel's soundtrack to the movie Passion (never saw the movie, but the soundtrack was great), and a drumming CD... it was either Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, or another one that my hubby has. Honestly, I don't remember most of it! I was so out of it, I didn't really hear the music.

Dancing is good in labor, but I would think that more sensuous, hip gyrating stuff would be better than just rocking out Like belly dancing would probably be ideal.

This time, I have no idea what I will play during labor... whatever other people want, I suppose, since I will probably be in "the zone" and not consciously hear it anyway.

[muppet729]

I really liked the soundtracks from Pirates of the Caribbean. My husband had them on his MP3 player and since we forgot my soothing CD's int he other car, this is what we had

I wore the headphones and pumped it up during contractions and turned it off in between. It helped me to "escape" into myself instead of being distracted by things around me (even though my dh and doula were great about minimizing distractions anyway)

So my vote is to have some hard pumping music because you might be surprised what mood you're in

[meredyth0315]

Fyoosh I love love love Peter Gabriel! I'm making a new list and will be adding lots of his. Thanks for the reminder

Muppet You know, one of my favorite scores was on the first Pirates soundtrack - have to add it too. Maybe thinking about Johnny Depp will help, too

[funkymum]

I am looking for the most calming music possible, so I've reserved a number of the "Healing Sounds" series from my local library. I'd also like to have the sounds of nyabinghi drums as well; it is a drum beat that carries the beat of the heart.

Check this for an amazing way to bring your little one in with the sound he/she is most used to: http://youtube.com/watch?v=z3WA9iHz5ww

[childofgod]

funkymum thank you for that. It was beautiful. It made me cry. Wish I could sing like that!!