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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Music for Labour

49 replies

TicTacsMum · 08/11/2005 19:26

I'm due in 4 weeks and trying to get things organised. I'm planning to download music onto the ipod for labour but have hit a total mental block and don't know what to put on!!

I know it depends on individual tastes but what did you/would you listen to during labour?

OP posts:

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Littlemissbusy · 10/11/2005 14:46

I had an elective c-section with my third baby in July, and I was asked what music I'd like on the radio - so DS was delivered to the relaxing music of Classic FM. We did have the opportunity to take in our our CD, which we chose not too, but DH and I spent an amusing hour thinking of the least appropriate tracks e.g. "The first cut is the deepest" or "it cuts both ways"!!!!!

Mummyvicky · 10/11/2005 14:50

I had the radio on with ds2, I was pushing and worlds cheesiest song came on "I've had the time of my life" that one from Dirty dancing..DH Loathes it and I actually managed to laugh at the cheesyness of it all!! Helped no end

laundrylover · 10/11/2005 16:24

When Tilly popped out we had the Lord of the Rings soundtrack playing which sounds very dramatic on the video of the cord cutting and first cuddles that the midwife wook for us! To tell you the truth though I don't think I noticed at the time through the rattle of the gas and air and my mooing! Obviously this next one, at home, will be so much more organised and relaxed - ha ha.

JessieParker · 10/11/2005 16:43

I wanted Classic FM, in the early stages, but it was Classic FM at the movies, when I was expecting Smooth Classics at 7. I ended up digging a tape out of my bag - it was an abridged version of one of the Chronicles of Narnia, read by (Sir) Michael Horden!

By the time that was over, I didn't care what I was listening to!

Coathanger · 10/11/2005 17:46

My DS2 was born to Tubular Bells ...

...which happens to be the theme tune to "Exorcist" I was mortified!!

Dh had recordred it on to a tape from a relaxing album apparently and was unaware of it being on there. The first time the tape played through I was convinced my baby would be born to it but the MW said baby would be here by the time it got round to that tune again....

Hahaha!! And out he popped to Tubular Bells....

Melpomene · 10/11/2005 21:44

I spent ages making a compliation on my MP3 to listen to in labour when I had dd2, then didn't listen to any of it while in labour. Went into labour at 3am and dh and I sat up watching MTV for a while. My most vivid memory of that is the Killers' 'Smile like you mean it'.

The day after dd2 had been born (when I was still in hospital) I listened to some of my compliation music while cuddling her and had a happy blub. Songs included 'Little Star' by Madonna and 'Cherry Blossom Girl' by Air.

charliegreensmum · 11/11/2005 09:27

Ended up having pan pipes xmas carols in April - not my choice, emergency c-section at 29 weeks, so this hadn't been at the top of my list of things to think about!! Did take my mind off what was going on though...

Elf1981 · 11/11/2005 10:40

I had planned to make a tape / CD to listen to but got waylaid. Ended up with a C-section due to baby being breech. They'd got a motown album on which I liked, but I did stop listening to the music when I overheard the head doc telling the guy who had done my spinal that he'd introduced the risk of meningitis to me! Then he leant over me and said "you alright love, your blood pressure is dropping".
After that, I forgot all about the music!!

Lio · 11/11/2005 12:21

I was listening to some Bach and the doctor complained (after third go with ventouse) that the baby didn't want to come out because the music was so dreadful

I also made a compilation of quiet songs to help with meditation.

throckenholt · 11/11/2005 12:32

I listed (and sang along to, and shouted when the cd ended ...) to Runrig.

It really helped a lot - so make sure you take something.

alicatsg · 11/11/2005 12:37

My m/w insisted on silence in the birthing room so we just heard stuff from other births - the odd screech, grunt and bizarrely oompa-pa-pa/Bavarian beer hall type music from down the corridor.

On the off chance that was anyone here - please explain your choice???

CarolinaMoon · 11/11/2005 12:44

I spent ages compiling my labour CDs - from stevie wonder to the smiths, via the darkness .

In the event, I couldn't bear to listen to anything. You may just want peace and quiet once you're in the throes of it.

wilbur · 11/11/2005 13:04

I've got three different Classic FM box sets from three different labours, lovely music and not too distracting. I also made a tape with mellow stuff on for ds1's labour and listened to it all several times as the labour went on and on and on. I think dh made a note of what piece was playing when ds2 made his entrance, must check and stick that in his baby book.

TwinMum258 · 11/11/2005 14:31

I'm with 3cherubs on this both my twins were born to Keane. In fact I put it on when my waters were broken and insisted that my husband just keep repeating it. I get goosebumps whenever I hear them now... it was the perfect birth!!!

CarlyP · 11/11/2005 15:56

not a song, too busy to play silly b&gg3rs with that!!! ds2 born to me laughing and saying, '...now i remember what the pain was like.....'

weebernie · 11/11/2005 16:10

Well I never had any music but hubby attempted to watch the footy news on the telly. It kept him out of my hair anyway as I can't stand anyone fussing about me when I'm in labour. However our ds3 had other plans for Daddy's football watching, as his birth was very quick and we made a fast dash to the delivery room.

calcium · 11/11/2005 20:52

Oh pleeeeease! having had both kids at home I was too worried about how much the neighbours would here let alone what music to play ha ha ha.... only joking, I 'm not that organised never even occured to me to have music

earthtomummy · 11/11/2005 20:57

My DD was born to Frank Sinatra crooning 'I've got you under my skin'. Entirely unintentional - song choice - but Frank and the orchestra was v. relaxing at 8am. Midwives were slightly nonplussed - they were expecting Nottingham FM or something and instead got a big band swinging intro blasting out. They hummed along though!!

jacqueline1 · 13/11/2005 22:01

I listened to Metro radio for most of my labour. Cheesy but relaxing. I did have one nasty midwife who turned the music off around 7pm even though ds wasn't born for another two and a half hours (she also took the gas and air off me the second she finished stitching me up! ) It was tinpot local radio all the way and I recommend it!

QueenVictoria · 13/11/2005 22:22

We spent ages downloading loads of music to a laptop before DD was born. During the labour my DP kept bringing out the laptop and i kept yelling at him to put it away again - i didnt want to know.

2nd time round i didnt bother even downloading music

lovecloud · 18/11/2005 20:47

I DJ so put together my own mix of my favourite chill out and soulful tunes such as Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Zero 7 etc...

really helped me relax and made me feel more like i was at home.

what kind of music do you like?

janeybops · 18/11/2005 21:10

didn't have any music at all thoughout both labours.

dd BBC news 24 on a loop. turned off for birth.

ds. much to dh's disppointment they had taken the tv out of the labour rooms by 2003! so no extra noise tp drown out my groans and moans! poor old dh had to go out and buy a newspaper...

Tatties · 21/11/2005 12:04

I'm with you Moondog and CarolinaMoon, couldn't have been doing with any music during labour..

teabags · 21/11/2005 12:23

me too.I sorted out loads of CD's to take to hospital with me and had a particular song I wanted to play as my baby arrived..... but on the day I wanted total silence. No music, no talking, no nothing. Except my mw and dh yakked on and on and on (about her car!) and I was too polite to tell them to shut up!

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