Music for Labor? My Labor Playlists
I was reading the birth story of a friend who recently had a baby… Without and epidural, and only a shot of morphine in the butt (can I get one of those?). She’s a champ! I knew that before she had this baby, but reading her story really testified to that once again.
She wrote a list of things to help with an unmedicated childbirth and one of the things she wrote about having during her labor which REALLY struck me as interesting was different music playlists. Recently, when my husband and I toured the hospital I’ll be delivering at one of the nurses mentioned we can bring whatever kind of sound system we like. Once I got t he idea of subwoofers out of my head I remembered Kim and her ipod playlists. Hey… I have an ipod, and we have some ipod speakers, fun!!
So now I’m getting into the whole idea of creating playlists to help me through labor. Maybe some Yanni and other classical music for the beginning parts, maybe a churchy music playlist, and then an upbeat playlist for pushing.
My friend Emily has an uncle who’s a composer, pianist and videographer (I know, a triple threat, watch out!) his name is Curtis Johnsen and he created a really cool video called Ambiessence, with about 45 minutes of beautiful photographs, video and music. She sent me one to check out and I’ve really been enjoying it. It’s a nice montage, and I think could be fun to watch while I’m in labor, probably early labor while I’m at home, and we’ll see how it goes when it’s time to treck to the hospital.
It’s already been fun to watch while I’m just relaxing around the house (between my nesting spurts). You can watch some of the video here.
So… I have this video, I have an ipod, and I’m working on some playlists. Any song suggestions?
Relaxation playlist:
“Almost a Whisper”- Yanni
“Enchanted”- Yanni
“In the Morning Light”-Yanni
“Nostalgia”- Yanni
“Butterfly Dance”-Yanni
“Love”- Keyshia Cole
“Falling Slowly”- Kris Allen (love him)
“On Bended Knee”- Boyz II Men
“Realize”- Colbie Caillat
“Capri”- Colbie Caillat
“Jesus Take The Wheel”- Carrie Underwood
“I Stand All Amazed”
“His Hands”
“I Walk By Faith”
“A Child’s Prayer”
“Psalm 23″ by Michael Olson
Upbeat playlist:
“Party Like a Rock Star”- Shop Boyz
“Going Down”- Young Joc
“Billy Jean”- Michael Jackson
“The New Workout Plan”- Kanye West
“What Do You Want From Me?”- Adam Lambert
“Single Ladies”- Beyonce
“Over”- Drake
“If You Seek Amy”-Britney Spears
“Gimmie More”- Britney Spears
“3”- Britney Spears
“Circus”- Britney Spears (yes, I’m a fan, good for working out!)
“Halo”- Beyonce
“Over”-Drake (my labor theme song)
Meeting Baby Playlist
“Amazing”- Janelle
“Isn’t She Lovely”- Stevie Wonder
“My Girl”- The Temptations
“Bubbly”- Colbie Caillat
“Capri”-Colbie Caillat
“Daughters”- John Mayer
“The Reason”- Hoobastank
“Ever Ever After”- Carrie Underwood
“I Hope You Dance” -Lee Ann Womack
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”- Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
And what would a labor playlist be without the classic: “Push it”: Salt-N-Pepa.
It’ll be interesting to see what tune Baby Girl is born to… Rap, R&B, Classical, Churchy? Whatever it is I’m sure it will be a song we remember forever.
Looking for something to watch/listen to during labor? You can get the Ambiessence DVD for $20 by emailing erdickey@gmail.com, or first you can try your luck at winning one here!!
I loaded up my wifes old “holiday” songs that she used to listen to on the radio when her family would drive on vacation! A whole bunch of 1980’s cheese songs…but they worked!
Shane
http://www.calgarydaddy.com
What a good idea…I’ll have to think about that one myself!
What about: God is here, How great is our God, AMAZING GRACE
or Cupid by 112?
Good luck!
I like Regina Spektor. She is pretty mellow. For your play list you could do “Lady”.
One of the best song for me is Halo by Beyonce. I just love it… and in my ideal birth that song with come with me.
I think the Young Joc song is kinda funny. Maybe instead of in the club it’s going down it’s “In the Hospital..It’s going down..I’ve gotta baby..Coming out..Meet me in the hospital..She’s coming now”..hahaha..I crack me up.
I think whatever you feel comfortable with and you feel would be uplifting and relaxing are great choices. I didn’t make a playlist for my first son’s birth. The hospital he was born in didn’t offer radios or anything like that. I made one for my daughter, and forgot my I-Pod. I didn’t make one for my last birth. I figured I’d forget that one too, which I did.
A few MUSTS for my calm playlist…
“Drifting” by Sarah McLachlan (makes me cry every time now)
“House at Pooh Corner” by Kenny Loggins
“Lullaby” by The Dixie Chicks
“Baby Mine” if you can find the Allison Krauss version it’s awesome
I also LOVE the song “Where You Lead” by Carol King, but specifically the version she performs with her daughter, Loise.
Also, the song “I Surrender”. It’s a worship song, but I’m not sure who wrote/performed the original. I heard it again at a women’s retreat last weekend and it seemed so perfect, because I will be surrendering during labor, and it’s about giving your heart for new life.
Yea, I thought about doing a playlist for my delivery, but after they gave me two extra strength doses of Benadryl because of my allergic reaction to the pain meds, I was literally knocked out until 2AM the next day. And when the nurse woke me up, she informed me that it was time to push. Anyways, my suggestions are:
~Anything by John Legend
~Diamonds & Pearls by Prince
~Still Standing by Monica
~Anything by No Doubt
~Anything by Jay-Z
~Diva by Beyonce
~Brown Skin by India Arie
~Love by Musiq Soulchild
~Bad Habit by Maxwell
~Bed by J Holiday
~Cruisin by Smokie Robinson
~King Kong by Jibbs
~He Is by Brandy
~Work It Out by Q-Tip
~They Like It Slow by H-Town
~It Takes Two by Rob Base
~Be by Common
~Love of my Life by Erika Badu
~The One by Mary J Blige fea Drake
~Diamond Girl by Ryan Leslie
~Impacto by Daddy Yankee
~Silly Love by Day 26
~Stay Together by Jennifer Lopez
~Sucka 4 Love by Danity Kane
~Around the Way Girl by LL Cool J
~Have You Ever Been in Love by Celine Dion
~I Could Fall in Love by Selena
~Mine Again by Mariah Carey
~I Believe in You and Me by Whitney Houston
And those are just a few of my many suggestions. I have more if you need them.
I really can’t think of anything!
Sorry I am no help.
I give you alot of credit having natural childbirth! I wish I would have been able to experience that, but I had a emergency c-section.
We had a natural birth and had a HUGE playlist. You may want to consider having a “welcome playlist” for when the bundle of joy arrives. We had the music on for hours after the boy arrived; it just made it all flow.
Matt Costa’s “Sunshine” is awesome, a little upbeat, but but mellow and just about anything by Jack Johnson fit that bill, but I really like “better together” and “banana pancakes”.
I hope you have an “easy”labour with lots of love and support. amber 🙂
Thanks for your comment. I think a craft section and and a recipe section is a great idea.
I will do it!
Love from A California Momma,
Angela
This comment has been removed by the author.
I LOVE the song Must Be Doin Somethin Righ tby Billy Currington! Its relaxing and very loving 🙂
Anything by Alison Krauss
june_spirit2628 at hotmail dot com
sign me up
Con Te Partiro ~ Andrea Boccelli.
I always love showtunes, especially anything by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It’s great stuff!!!
I follow your blog.
Anything by Alison Krauss
june_spirit2628 at hotmail dot com
Yea, I thought about doing a playlist for my delivery, but after they gave me two extra strength doses of Benadryl because of my allergic reaction to the pain meds, I was literally knocked out until 2AM the next day. And when the nurse woke me up, she informed me that it was time to push. Anyways, my suggestions are:
~Anything by John Legend
~Diamonds & Pearls by Prince
~Still Standing by Monica
~Anything by No Doubt
~Anything by Jay-Z
~Diva by Beyonce
~Brown Skin by India Arie
~Love by Musiq Soulchild
~Bad Habit by Maxwell
~Bed by J Holiday
~Cruisin by Smokie Robinson
~King Kong by Jibbs
~He Is by Brandy
~Work It Out by Q-Tip
~They Like It Slow by H-Town
~It Takes Two by Rob Base
~Be by Common
~Love of my Life by Erika Badu
~The One by Mary J Blige fea Drake
~Diamond Girl by Ryan Leslie
~Impacto by Daddy Yankee
~Silly Love by Day 26
~Stay Together by Jennifer Lopez
~Sucka 4 Love by Danity Kane
~Around the Way Girl by LL Cool J
~Have You Ever Been in Love by Celine Dion
~I Could Fall in Love by Selena
~Mine Again by Mariah Carey
~I Believe in You and Me by Whitney Houston
And those are just a few of my many suggestions. I have more if you need them.
I like Regina Spektor. She is pretty mellow. For your play list you could do “Lady”.
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