7 Benefits to Music in Birth

Have you every considered the value of incorporating a playlist into your birth plan? There is something really powerful about music. Have you noticed how it can change your mood? That's pretty powerful.

We believe there's something to crafting a birth plan that accounts for all of your senses - taste, smell, sight, hearing and feeling. This blog focuses on what you're doing for your sense of hearing. Without music, there can be a lot you're not in control of, like a beeping monitor, the door opening and closing, etc. While music doesn't eliminate these noises, it certainly gives you a sense of control over your (unfamiliar) environment and has a lot of other benefits, too.

1. Pain Relief and Distraction: A well-chosen playlist can provide a significant distraction from labor discomfort. Engaging with music helps divert attention from the discomfort, offering a form of pain relief that can reduce the need for medical interventions.

2. Emotional Support + Comfort: Music has the power to evoke positive emotions and memories, providing emotional support and comfort. Familiar and favorite songs can create a sense of familiarity and safety, helping laboring moms feel more at ease and supported during labor.

3. Reduction of Stress and Anxiety: Music can help lower levels of stress and anxiety by promoting relaxation and reducing the release of stress hormones like cortisol, which works against natural oxytocin (or synthetic version, Pitocin). A calming playlist can create a serene environment, making the labor process less overwhelming.

4. Enhanced Focus and Breathing Control: Music with a steady rhythm can aid in maintaining a regular breathing pattern, which is crucial during contractions. Rhythmic music can help laboring moms stay focused and calm, assisting with controlled breathing techniques that can manage pain more effectively. Working with your body instead of against it helps improve the labor process!

5. Personalized + Empowering Experience: A curated playlist allows moms to tailor their birthing environment to their preferences, making the experience more personal and empowering. The proactive choice for specific songs or genres can give you a sense of control and involvement in your own birthing process. Agency in birth is empowering and leads to better outcomes.

6. Positive Association and Memory: The music played during labor can create positive associations with the birth experience. Later on, these songs can serve as a reminder of the birth, potentially becoming meaningful and cherished memories for mom, lessening the chances of a traumatic birth experience.

7. Creating a Calming Environment for the Baby: Music can also affect the baby positively. A soothing playlist can create a calm and gentle environment for the newborn, easing the transition from the womb to the outside world.

8. Facilitating a Supportive Atmosphere: A curated playlist can help create a supportive and cohesive atmosphere in the delivery room. It can provide cues for relaxation and calmness not just for the mother, but also for the partner, medical staff, and anyone else present, contributing to a more harmonious birthing environment.

Creating a playlist for a calm birth experience involves selecting music that promotes relaxation, comfort and a positive atmosphere. Below is a curated playlist with a mix of soothing classical music, gentle instrumentals, and mellow contemporary songs. We've created one for you, if you need something quick, or want a solid starting point to customize. You can download it from Spotify when you search for "Baby Boldly Birth Playlist"!

Baby Boldly Birth Playlist

1. "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy
2. "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Erik Satie
3. "Prelude in E Minor" by Frédéric Chopin
4. "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel
5. "Weightless" by Marconi Union
6. "The Swan (from 'Carnival of the Animals')" by Camille Saint-Saëns
7. "River Flows in You" by Yiruma
8. "Meditation from Thaïs" by Jules Massenet
9. "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley
10. "Your Hand in Mine" by Explosions in the Sky
11. "Hoppípolla" by Sigur Rós
12. "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri (Instrumental)
13. "Comptine d'un autre été: L'après-midi" by Yann Tiersen
14. "Sea of Love" by Cat Power
15. "Saturn" by Sleeping at Last
16. "Opus 23" by Dustin O'Halloran
17. "All of Me" by John Legend (Instrumental)
18. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
19. "Lullaby" by Johannes Brahms
20. "Breathe Me" by Sia (Instrumental)
21. "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes (Acoustic)
22. "Blackbird" by The Beatles (Instrumental)
23. "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens
24. "Moon River" by Henry Mancini (Instrumental)
25. "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones

Tips for Using the Playlist

• Start Early: Begin playing the music early in labor to help establish a calm environment from the outset. Music can cue our minds to get in the ideal headspace for labor waves.
• Volume Control: Keep the volume at a comfortable level. It should be audible, and not overpowering.
• Looping: Consider setting the playlist to loop, so the music continues seamlessly without interruptions. It can be unnecessarily jarring for the music to suddenly stop.
• Personalization: Feel free to swap out any songs for personal favorites that bring comfort and peace to you.

This playlist aims to create a serene and supportive atmosphere, helping to reduce stress and promote a positive birth experience. What do you think? Will you incorporate a playlist into your birth plan?