I personally really like music. In fact, with the kids running around I don't turn on music as much as I used to do. So when I do use it and it lifts my mood and makes me more productive, I think to myself, "Gee, why don't I listen to music more often?" The same holds true for music in labor. Just as it can lift my mood and seem to provide me with more energy and spunk during the average day, it does the same in labor.
The trick is that when you're listening to music that you really like, your body is releasing a substance called an endorphin. These endorphins are morphine-like hormones that cause you to feel less pain and to be happier. (See the benefit for labor yet?) So, plug in your iPod and start downloading music for your big delivery day using these great tips for picking the right music for you.
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I chose classical, which I normally can’t listen to. For some reason, when my husband and I were doing our relaxation exercises, it seemed to work best. When we had our second son, I burned a CD full of slow, soft R&B, and other “love” songs. I never got to use it, but that was what was planned!
I think Bach chorales would be a good choice for me. They are complex enough that you can think about them if you need to but pretty enough that you can use them as background music if that is what you need. Anyone else?
Bach and Vivaldi violin concertos. I know the scores by memory, so they relax me more then anything.
Classical music is the way to go with labor, I think.
Vivaldi, Mozart, and Beethoven come to mind as being particular possibilities. I certainly wouldn’t discount Tchaikovsky in that mix, either.
My “other” would be something light, maybe a little quirky. Ingrid Michaelson, Enya, or something like that.
Other. I would probably listen to classical music or early jazz; that said, when I’m really emotional, it’s hard to find something that won’t annoy me.
I always go with the music played by a piano and with violin. I really requested a friend to burn me a cd with music plays violin and piano.