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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

What Music Did You Listen To In Labour?

56 replies

GeorginaA · 12/03/2004 16:57

I'm trying to think through what I would like to listen to on the day. I'm guessing what I need is something with a reasonable beat (but not too overwhelming) and without lyrics to distract too much.

I thought Deep Forest would fit the bill as I remembered loving that and finally tracked down a CD, but now I'm sitting here listening to it I've realised that actually I associate it with some very strong feelings of depression I had about a decade ago - it wasn't until I listened that it came flooding back! So, not the best choice, probably

So, what did other people find helpful during their labour, or did you end up planning a musical extravaganza only to completely forget to turn the CD player on?

OP posts:

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Blu · 12/03/2004 19:06

I wouldn't have wanted any music at all, I was totally and completely into my breathing and the rhythym of contractions and the throb throb of Tens. My dp kept wanting me to listen to Brian Eno ghastly ambient wierdy stuff.

CountessDracula · 12/03/2004 19:24

Oh god I was in the operating theatre for my emergency caeser and bloody s club 7 was playing - Don't stop moving. God how awful (but strangely catchy!)

hoxtonchick · 12/03/2004 19:28

I agree with your dh Georgina, I had Radio 4 on the whole time.

suzywong · 12/03/2004 19:30

I asked them to turn b***y Chris Tarrant off the radio when I went in for my second emergency C and some sarcky mare said 'OOh,don't yowant yo baby to growup to like music?'

Yes, MUSIC, and I would rather you all concerntrated on the job in hand.

alexsmum · 12/03/2004 19:43

in my first labour I listened to van morrison 'moondance' and Massive attack 'protection'.The massive attack album was fantastic.There is a track that starts with the a sound like someone breathing gas and air and I was breathing in time to it.Very weird feeling.
Second labour...bit embarrassing this..lionel richie the love songs!!! Not quite the same is it??!!!
Every time I hear massive attack I am back in that pool, hanging on to my gas and air!!!

secur · 12/03/2004 20:15

Message withdrawn

fisil · 12/03/2004 20:31

This was dp's job. In fact, as soon as I got pg again he said "right, got the iPod now - need to start thinking what to put on it."

Very early on we listened to the radio. This only lasted the first 5 hours (I know the exact timing - my waters broke straight after lunchtime Archers and I realised that I was no longer following the plot during evening Archers).

Then we listened to the compliation of my favourites - lots of Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet - women belting it out. Suited me just fine (and I think dp snoozed).

During the epidural induced lull dp put on a chill out compilation.

And for the final big push he put on his own compilation. I was not (could not) listening by then - so I was glad he had something on that he liked. In fact, that's my big bit of advice. That was dp's special job, and it was really him who appreciated it most - it gave him something to do!

mummytojames · 12/03/2004 20:35

i wouldnt have known if there was theboys choir when i was giving birth then again or would have my partner because i was to busy telling some stupd student nurse exactly where she could go because she didnt have a clue what she was doing so my music would have been useless anyway ood thing i forgot to pik it up

Original poster

GeorginaA · 12/03/2004 20:41

Giggling lots at all these music stories, thank you

secur: I quite liked it - brought a smile and a mellow feeling which is a good sign! Might well go on my calming CD...

Of course, now dh has heard fisil's story, he's talking about using it as an excuse to buy an iPod...

OP posts:

popsycal · 12/03/2004 20:43

barry white
don't ask
still nto sure how it got on the cd player in the delivery room

throckenholt · 13/03/2004 06:52

runrig - singing along really helped get through contractions. I remember the aneasthetist sinking incredulously "she's singing!" whilst he tried for the 4th time to site the epidural

katierocket · 13/03/2004 06:54

White Ladder - David Gray
Midwife said to me
"This used to be one of my favourite albums, now it'll just make me think of you in labour".

katierocket · 13/03/2004 06:56

oh and I forgot that I ended up in operating theatre (had ventouse but they had prepped me for a cs in case it didn't work) and in there they had Kiss on - really bizarre. I remember thinking "why is the radio on?!"

ragtaggle · 13/03/2004 07:00

Had the baby at home in water. My dh wired up his IPOD to his 'mellow' playlist. Tbh I was pretty oblivious to most of it but I do remember during one particular contraction hearing that Eminem song 'Stan' where the bloke drowns his pregnant girlfriend. My dh still insists that this qualifies as mellow simply because Dido is singing on it ! After a four and a half hour second stage I remember suddenly being very irritated by having music on and told him to turn it off - NOW.

ragtaggle · 13/03/2004 07:02

I Should add that I started my labour while watching Pop idol. I remember my dh asking if I could pop her out before the results show. Better not repeat my reply

ragtaggle · 13/03/2004 07:02

Whoops - Labour story so good I told it twice!

mez75 · 13/03/2004 07:31

I was in the operating theatre for my C section and because Ds was born just before christmas all the doctors and nurses were talking about their xmas party. Ds was pulled out listen to Christina Aguilera Dirty! Not even a nice christmas song. Mind you then he was in SCBU and they had the radio on all the time and Daniel Bedingfield, If your not the one kept coming on . So that reminds me too and I still cry when I here that song.

gold123 · 13/03/2004 09:37

Hi everyone, enjoying observing your chat. I didn't have time to listen during both my labours, but I remember during my first pregnancy I used to listen to Lighthouse family 'High' - I can't play it now without a little tear (of happiness). Also I went to aqua natal classes and they always used to play TOTO 'Africa' whilst we were lying on our backs floating in a dim lit pool, I now try and recreate that feeling in the bath and now never have the light on just candels - pure relaxation. If anyone has the opportunity for Aqua Natal classes - do them

marthamoo · 13/03/2004 10:06

Ds1 - it didn't even occur to me to have music. Ds2 - they didn't even manage to get me into a delivery suite, I had him on the ward, so the clink of breakfast dishes and people bustling about was my background music!

spots · 13/03/2004 12:37

Hmmm this is a good thread... This is my 1st pg and maybe when it comes to the crunch I'll prefer nothing at all but I have lined up first cd for labour, not sure if anyone has come acrosss Charlie McMahon? An Australian bloke who uses didgeridoo against tinkly piano and orchestral arrangements... It works really well for uplifting and relaxing because the farty noise of the d'doo goes right into you while the more sunny tuneful stuff just carries you along. I'm trying not to listen to it so much that I get sick of it. Seeing as how that's all I've thought of so far I may tire of it anyway over the course of however many hours' labour...

Cecilia · 13/03/2004 20:19

Can really recommend the Burt Bacharach Collection. For my first pregnancy, I took in tapes by Christy Moore and Van Morrison. Didn't work as good birthing tracks, and anyway, my tape machine ran out of batteries after the first 10 minutes. 2nd pregnany - no music at all. 3rd - Burt Bacharach - 'Do You Know the Way to San Jose?', 'I Say a Little Prayer', 'Wishin' And Hopin' - all great giving birth songs. Plus, its a double cd, so during a long labour you don't get fed up with too many repeats. Only problem is, I can't listen to it any more!

bighug · 14/03/2004 21:49

air - moon safari - fantastic. it was the only thing I'd let my DH put on.

monkeygirl · 14/03/2004 22:34

Didn't have music but the FA Cup Final on (Liverpool v Arsenal). Pushed dd out to the cries of 'come on Owen' and 'yesssss' as he scored. I was slightly worried that everyone in the room wasn't particularly interested in my efforts so this time round I might try out something from a good old 'guitar' band - lots of urgent, fast chords.

outofpractice · 15/03/2004 17:00

I took loads of paraphernalia to the hospital; it was a joke, including beanbag, birthing ball, massage oils which there was no time to use, and also cassette player. It really helped me though so was worth it. I (and the unfortunate other people present who I don't think liked it) listened to Bach Prelude and Fugues (Art of Fugue, and all the preludes and fugues in each key) all the way through labour, again, and again, and again. It may not be your thing, but Bach has fantasic rhythm (for breathing) and harmony (for distracting you).

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