Playlists for Labour
I love the idea of using music in labour and I’m not entirely sure why, but I do find that a lot of families shy away from using it. Some say that they’re worried it’s going to become a distraction or they’re not sure what they’re going to want, but sometimes I think it’s because they imagine labour to be a very serious and intense experience, which it can be, but a serious, quiet, intense, hospital-noise-beeping environment is much less helpful for relaxing into labour than one with some music going on in the background.
My suggestions for music during labour range from your favourite pop songs to your favourite movie’s soundtrack to Buddhist chanting. No, of course you won’t know what you’ll want to listen to in labour or when, but we also don’t know what comfort measures will work or when but that doesn’t mean that we go into labour without preparing any. So either follow some playlists on Spotify, or create your own, or task that to your partner -- regardless of who does it or how it gets done, I’d highly suggest you take the time to do it.
Throw the playlist on when you’re foam-rolling, using the lacrosse ball, practicing with wall sits or squeezing the ice cube, or when you’re in a bath visualizing coping through contractions and beginning to set some serious intentions for birth. The more that we can listen to this music and really weave our energy, desires, focus into it, the more powerful tool music can become during labour.
One really good example of this is religious prayer or listening to all-time favourite artists. Some birthers grew up going to mosques, churches, synagogues, temples and although they no longer identify as particularly religious, they listen to chants and prayers when labour gets tough. It takes them somewhere else, often in mind-spaces with grandparents or elders, and they’re able to tap into a source of power that I don’t ever get to see any other way. One of my clients loves Tash Sultana and listened to her live concert during labour and the effect it had on her was truly unbelievable -- the way she moved, the way she breathed and sang and lost herself to the music… it was amazing.
I’ve linked some examples of Spotify playlists and YouTube videos below that of course you are of no obligation to even open or use, but hopefully this video will jog some ideas of what music you might want to listen to during labour.
I love the idea of using music in labour and I’m not entirely sure why, but I do find that a lot of families shy away from using it. Some say that they’re worried it’s going to become a distraction or they’re not sure what they’re going to want, but sometimes I think it’s because they imagine labour to be a very serious and intense experience, which it can be, but a serious, quiet, intense, hospital-noise-beeping environment is much less helpful for relaxing into labour than one with some music going on in the background.
My suggestions for music during labour range from your favourite pop songs to your favourite movie’s soundtrack to Buddhist chanting. No, of course you won’t know what you’ll want to listen to in labour or when, but we also don’t know what comfort measures will work or when but that doesn’t mean that we go into labour without preparing any. So either follow some playlists on Spotify, or create your own, or task that to your partner -- regardless of who does it or how it gets done, I’d highly suggest you take the time to do it.
Throw the playlist on when you’re foam-rolling, using the lacrosse ball, practicing with wall sits or squeezing the ice cube, or when you’re in a bath visualizing coping through contractions and beginning to set some serious intentions for birth. The more that we can listen to this music and really weave our energy, desires, focus into it, the more powerful tool music can become during labour.
One really good example of this is religious prayer or listening to all-time favourite artists. Some birthers grew up going to mosques, churches, synagogues, temples and although they no longer identify as particularly religious, they listen to chants and prayers when labour gets tough. It takes them somewhere else, often in mind-spaces with grandparents or elders, and they’re able to tap into a source of power that I don’t ever get to see any other way. One of my clients loves Tash Sultana and listened to her live concert during labour and the effect it had on her was truly unbelievable -- the way she moved, the way she breathed and sang and lost herself to the music… it was amazing.
I’ve linked some examples of Spotify playlists and YouTube videos below that of course you are of no obligation to even open or use, but hopefully this video will jog some ideas of what music you might want to listen to during labour.