As your due date creeps closer it is a good idea to create a birthing plan so you can be as prepared as possible on the big day. An good consideration for your birthing plan is whether or not you would like to play any music during labour.
You may not think that the music you plan, if any, matters when you are giving birth, but research has shown that playing the right music for you can help improve your mood, reduce pain and increase your level comfort. Even some therapists use music in what is known as Music Therapy to aid people in their therapeutic goals.
Now, there isn’t a lot research out there on the benefits of playing music during labour but the facts are that music can reduce your perception of pain, it can improve your mood and provide an effective distraction from labour and all the sounds in the birthing suite. It can also increase pain relieving hormones and make it feel like your time in labour goes by faster. That has to be a bonus right?! Couple this good stuff with the fact that there is absolutely no harm in using music in labour and you can see why many pregnant women are adding a playlist to their birth plan!
Before you start creating your labour playlist there are a few thing you need to consider:
1. Music Genre
You are definitely going to want to fill your playlist with music that your love. But think about adding music that is not really your thing but help to soothe and calm you should you get stressed during labour. Some people find voices really distracting during labour so you may want to add some instrumental music such as yoga music, muzak or nature sounds. You don’t have to play them but it is good idea to have them handy on the day
2. Length
The average length of active labour is around 8 to 12 hours. So be prepared and create a playlist no shorter than 12 hours long
2. Sectioning
Throughout labour you will want to listen to different kinds of music so it is a good idea to break up your playlist into parts. You may want to section it into fast & uptempo, slow & relaxing, and calming & relaxing. Remember to also add the music that you would like to play when the baby arrives ie entrance music.
4. Streaming App
Many streaming apps have a free option but these include ads. So if you don’t want your flow interrupted with a floor tile commercial best you subscribe and pay.
As a side note, it is important to keep in mind that all the planning in the world can be undone on the big day. So be prepared to mix up your playlist on the day, or focus on one section only, or perhaps even throw the whole idea of music out the window.
To help start you off we have created a list of our top birthing songs & sounds that you may want to add to your labour play list (in no particular order):
- Try – P!nk
- Push It – Salt n Pepa
- Roar – Katy Perry
- Strong Enough – Cher
- Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
- Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
- Fighter – Christina Aguilera
- Run the World – Beyoncé
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
- I’m Still Standing – Elton John
- Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
- If I were a boy – Beyonce
- Let It Go – Idina Menzel
- Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
- Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns n Roses
- P!nk – Cover Me in Sunshine
- Blue – Beyoncé
- I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
- Best Day Of Your Life – Katie Herzig
- Better Together – Jack Johnson
- Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
- Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) – John Lennon
- A Little Ray of Sunshine – Glenn Shorrock
- All of Me – John Legend
- When I look at You – Rosie Carney
- Sound Bath for Releasing Anxiety & Tension – Healing Vibrations
- Relaxing 4-7 Hz Theta Waves – Catalyst University
- Hypnobirthing to help with labor – Emma Kenny
- Celebration – Kool & The Gang