If you used music during the birth, what did you listen to?

[sorkycake]

HWB planned. Never really thought too much about music.
I always just thought it was one of those things first-timers packed along with a cd player when they trundle off to hospital with 2 suitcases and an over-laiden donkey

I've had 2 previous HWB and never really thought about playing music, but for some reason I'm considering it for this one.

What music is good for giving birth to?

Do you go with your regular choice of "potter round the house" stuff?
Classical? fast beat? kylie??
Something strange like 'chanting' perhaps?

Haha! We had a Sam Cook best of to start with, then later when it got too painful, The Birthday Party and the Liars, really discordant noise. Helped a lot. In the end had emergency CS, so nothing for the actual birth.
Be careful though, if I hear Sam Cook now it gives me pain.

My dd was born to Bach's goldberg variations..... solo piano, very calm, almost hypnotic - can very much recommend. During the labour, we alternated between that and Peter Gabriel's Passion album (it's the soundtrack to the Last temptation of Christ) - know that probably sounds really bizarre, but actually, it's slightly middle eastern sounding very relaxing instrumental music.....

Go with what you feel like!

Don't use music that gets you pumped as this can lead to you releasing adrenalin. I also wouldn't use anything that you have an emotional attachment to as you don't want any distractions.

Whale music and such like is very good. I would never listen to it by choice, but when it's played during a beauty treatment or at yoga I find it really relaxing and peaceful.

I got given a pan pipe CD during my pregnancy which I used to put on when napped in the day as it calmed my daughter (who was very active inside and made me very very ill throughout) so I had that playing whilst in labour and she was out very quickly and calmly with no pain or pain relief needed. It helped me.
I also had Alicia Keyes and UB40 with me as Id also listened to these alot during the pregnancy.
Also when napping I listened to classical fm which would never normally do but it worked a treat and shes such an angel now!!

ooh I had a huge mix 3 CD's DH had made up..

firey music including breathe by the prodigy
funny stuff like - I'm too sexy by Right said fred and Don't stop me now by queen
moody gently music..

each played at different times. All good choices.

I hadn't planned any particular music for the HWB of my son so I just went with the flow. I started off with a really old Sasha and Digweed CD. Not normally my sort of listening choice at all really but it starts off all ambient and mellow; just right for my early stage. However, it all started to get a bit hardcore after 20 minutes or so (the music AND the labour!), so I asked DH to switch CDs.

Initially, he totally misjudged me and offered up Norah Jones (HIS perception of what a labouring woman might want to listen to) or Jack Johnson (who DH likes but I don't!). In the end, he completely pulled it out of the bag by putting on a Nat King Cole album just as I was about to get into the pool. Ahhhhh, happy times...until the transition stage when I wanted it switched off