Music in labour

[MrsExton]

Hello, looking for some advice about the big day! I have been listening to natal hypnotherapy CDs, and while I can see the benefit of training yourself to relax, the music on them is driving me crazy! It reminds me of that cheesy pan pipes music you hear when getting a massage or facial! I expect music will be the last thing on my mind when the time comes, but I was thinking about putting together a playlist of motivational songs to help distract me, dance-y stuff from my workout playlist which helps keep me going when jogging etc. Is this a reasonable idea? I know most advice seems to be for chilled out music, but I reckon labour must be the most physically demanding thing you can do so maybe some more up beat tunes would keep me going??

[namechangecosfeelingsad]

Hope I don't sound miserable but I, like you, had planned this part of labour and then found that both times I had neither the time nor inclination to faff about with CDs. I also suspect I would have found them distracting and irritating,as I went right 'into' myself, IYKWIM.

Incidentally, I had such a gas and air high that I could hear take That's 'Back For Good' as DS2 was delivered...noone else could

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Don't know if you've got the same CD as I had, but mine came with disc of 'relaxing birth music', which was played on a loop during my labour with DS - was heartily sick of it by the end. Especially one track that had farking sea gulls on it!

This time with DD I had 'Play' by Moby. I like a bit of background noise to distract from the odd sounds that I seem to make in labour, but can't say it matters too much what it is.

[MrsExton]

Was thinking about ipod playlist, I agree CDs just would not happen! On holiday next week so think I could cobble something together. It also means I would be forcing my husband to listen to Girls Aloud and other happy pop tunes which would be priceless

[Portoeufino]

I THINK the radio was on when i was in labour. If I heard anything, I don't remember.....I do remember dh doing the crossword and everyone apart from ME - THE ONE DOING EVERYTHING having a cup of tea or 3. More ice chips my love? Shove them up your arse!

[Portoeufino]

Sorry!

[doulalc]

I've known some mothers who used a wide variety...often depending on where they were in their labour. Sometimes it was quiet, relaxing music...sometimes it was music they could sing to in their heads or even out loud to focus on. It may be music they could move and sway to while on a birth ball or with partner, or even very up temple music to give them some extra umph during second stage.

Then you will have others who bring it in, but find it distracting, but not in a good way, so it stays off.....

[Ripeberry]

With my second i watched the film AI about the child robot (it just happened to be on) and i had to have the lights off in the house as it made me feel calmer.
But watching that film made feel calmer, don't think i could listen to music as it would get on my nerves.

[MiniMarmite]

We had loads of upbeat music - DH prepared a labour playlist on his IPOD! I have fond memories of telling the MW through the has of gas & air about how we went to the KT Tunstall concert whilst pregnant and the LO jigged around in my belly, !

Best thing we did