The Ultimate Labor Playlist

 

I listen to music ALL THE TIME.  I listen to it while I'm cooking, cleaning, driving, working, exercising, you get the point.  While I was pregnant, my husband and I decided to go to a few of the labor & birth classes, and I also attended weekly prenatal yoga classes.  They talked about relaxation techniques, massages, managing pain, etc.  When I thought about the hours and hours that would soon be my labor, I immediately thought, I need to make a playlist!  Music is therapeutic for me and it also helps trigger memories (whether they be happy, sad, or scary memories).  How often do you hear a song and you say, "Hey!  This song reminds me of that one time..."  Over the second half of my pregnancy I continued to add songs as I became inspired by them, relaxed by them, motivated by them, and moved by them.  As my due date neared, I added my portable iphone speakers into my hospital bag, along with a bottle of Lavender-Vanilla Linen Spray.  Although I did yoga throughout my pregnancy, practicing breathing and relaxation techniques, I knew I needed something else that could potentially take my mind off of pain, if even for a moment. 

I listened to the music on shuffle/repeat throughout the evening and following morning of my labor, while simultaneously having my husband spray my blankets/sheets with the spray.  It really was a nice distraction from the pain I was experiencing during my contractions and entire labor.  Hopefully my playlist can be a nice distraction and/or relaxation aide for other expecting mommies.  I still listen to this playlist on the regular and it always brings me back to the labor room and the day I was blessed with my baby boy's arrival.  I sometimes strap baby boy into his ergobaby carrier to dance and sway to the music of the playlist, I like to think that he remembers that joyous day too :) 

Tessa's Labor Playlist
1. "Amber" by 311 (brought me to a very "zen" place)
2. "Arms of a Woman" by Amos Lee (love Amos Lee's voice, this was a song that I imagined my baby boy singing to me)
3. "Beautiful Boy" by Ben Harper (having a baby boy, great lyrics)
4. "Beautiful Flower" by India Arie (made me feel like a beautiful flower when I was really a hot mess, very empowering song)
5. "Bluebird" by Sara Bareilles (although the lyrics don't really relate, she has a very calming tone in this song, love the piano)
6. "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon (I know, very odd song choice, I listened to this song during one of my intense nesting surges, it was just too awesome and always makes me smile)
7. "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones (no explanation needed here)
8. "Duet" by Rachael Yamagata (calming song)
9. "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova (pictured my baby making his way into the World, beautiful song)
10. "Flower" by Amos Lee (I felt like my heart was a blooming flower, so beautiful and full with love for my baby)
11. "Forever" by Ben Harper (this seems like a great song for a wedding, but I was moved by the thought of forever with my baby and husband, and how gentle the song is)
12. "Halo" by Beyoncé (this song is very moving in any capacity)
13. "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" by Van Morrison (I was raised on Van Morrison's music, I wanted my baby boy to listen also!)
14. "Heavenly Day" by Patty Griffin (it really is heavenly)
15. "Light of Love" by Jai-Jagdeesh (beautiful lyrics, empowering, moving)
16. "In My Life" by Jake Shimabukuro (no lyrics, just a wonderful instrumental)
17. "Ready for Love" India Arie (so ready to love my little baby)
18. "Reasons to Love You" by Meiko (such a calming voice)
19. "On The Nature of Daylight" by Max Richter (calming instrumental, I feel like it almost captures the beauty and pain of laboring)
20. "This Woman's Work" by Maxwell (most people see this as a "romantic" song, but I felt like it really focused on the strength and fight in a woman, and channeling that strength through the tough times)
21. "Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (I pictured myself dancing with my baby-I actually sing this song to him now, he loves it)
22. "I Am" by Christina Aguilera (love love love this song and it's lyrics, I felt like it represented my personal relationship with pregnancy, labor, birth, being a Mother, the words just spoke to me "I am a lioness!")
23. "You Were Born" by Cloud Cult (just as the lyrics say)
24. "Cosmic Love" by Florence + The Machine (I feel like the sound and melody represent the varying intensity of contractions)
25. "Blackbird" by The Beatles (it's the Beatles, enough said)