Birthing playlist - what is/was on yours?

[xMrsxHx87x]

Intended to be a light-hearted thread! I'm due with my first in 3 weeks and I've been reading into techniques for getting through birth, including hypnobirthing. Music is a big feature of hypnobirthing, but a lot of it suggests listening peaceful/spa music, which I'm not sure is realistically going to get me through - I just don't believe I can convince myself I'm in a relaxing environment like a spa, no matter how hard I try! However, the idea of music generally is appealing.

A lot of my friends made playlists of their favourite music and listened to it throughout labour, with many now having a memory of the song their child was born to. For those of you who used (or will be using) music to get you through labour, what genre or theme did you go for and why? Did it help? And can you remember what was playing when your baby arrived (whether birth vaginally or via CS).

I had a playlist for my first time and didn't get anywhere near playing it during labour. I just had my favourite songs and a few labour related ones (I can only remember "push it" salt n pepa).

My DH put my playlist on at some point during my labour but I don't remember really listening to it. However I do have fond memories of listening to the playlist in the bath throughout my pregnancy and talking to bump, so I'm still glad I did it!

It's loads of folksy acoustic type music and songs that are special to me and DH

Didn't have anything with the first. Didn't really have time. 2nd I had the radio on, I think it was bbc1 at like 2am which was pretty shit and the talking and not my kind of music annoyed the hell out of me. changed it to classical just so it was something chill and constant (even though not my kind of music either). Turned it off about 3am and didn't even notice as I was so into my own body by then and focusing through labour for another half hour.

Just have some go to song that you love for some upbeat need to get through it time, but also have a back up of chill out calm verrrrryyy background music too.
It's very easy to be overwhelmed by all the feeling and emotion while music is also on, and midwife or birthing partner is talking plus all the odd sounds that will be coming from you too haha

DD we had the album One by One by Foo Fighters on in the theatre.

DS we had Sonic Highways by Foo Fighters on.

I made a Spotify playlist of all my favourite songs, pretty eclectic taste in music so it spanned many genres. There probably were a few chilled songs in there but most were upbeat. Hypnobirthing at it's core is to help you achieve a calm and relaxed state, that looks different from person to person. So don't overthink it and use what suits you😊

Some of mine:
Girl On Fire - Alicia Keys
I Will Wait - Mumford and Sons
Crazy World - Aslan
Sweet Child O Mine - Guns n Roses
Hey Mama - Kanye West
Stronger - Kanye West
Mother - Meghan Trainor

I used it during contractions at home all day before going into hospital and it really helped (didn't have it with my first). It kept me in the zone, I had headphones in and was just focused, I felt good.

Made a brilliant playlist, had it all ready to go but then for some reason when I went into labour with DS I only wanted to listen to a hypnobirthing cd, Rainbow Relaxation... over and over for 10 hours or so. I was high on gas and air so it all blurred into one anyway. Sorry to the midwives and DH!

Hmmm I did have music playing to start, I had chilled music for labour and a more uptempo playlist for pushing because I thought that would help make me feel more energetic. Unfortunately about 20 minutes into the pushing stage I couldn’t deal with the music any more and yelled at my husband to turn it off 😅 so by all means make a playlist but be aware you might not end up listening to it!

i wasn’t planning on staying that long to need a playlist.
my first was born in 4 hours. i was barely on this planet and wouldn’t have known if music was playing. i pushed for 3 minutes and 25 seconds according to my notes. the subsequent 2 births were even quicker. last one most painful

I can’t think of anything worse than music playing whilst I’m in active labour. There is more than enough stimulation in all of my senses, adding music to the mix would send me into overdrive but each to their own. Wishing you a happy delivery!