Lend me your ears...

[wayfaringwordhack]

 Let me put that another way:

At the hospital, I'm going to have a CD player in the preparation and birthing rooms and can bring my own music.  I'm feeling at a loss to think of what I would want to listen to while in labor.  So, what do you guys and gals listen to when you want to relax or feel good vibes?

Any recommendations?

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Musical tastes are so personal! And labor is so personal--and intense (but in a good way).

My advice is to have a mix CD with a variety of stuff on it, or maybe two CDs, one that tends to the calming and one that tends to the energetic--unless you already know that you'd prefer one of these over the others.

I hope it's a *wonderful* experience. It can be, you know. You can end up feeling like you're on the top of Mt. Everest; you've just done this HUGE THING, and here is this new person in the world.

[tatterpunk.livejournal.com]

Hmm! The only thing I can think of is how when I got my tattoo I listened to La Roux's debut album on repeat. ;)

I've personally (and this is a very personal thing) found relaxing or soothing music doesn't help me endure pain, that I do better with stronger beats. Nothing too head-bangy, but something to mentally grab onto. Get the adrenaline up. Make sense?

[rabiagale.livejournal.com]

I had a Fernando Ortega CD for the first time around... and.. I don't remember anything for the other two. By that point, I guess music wasn't that important to me. I wanted to have the baby and go home. :D

Because I'm cheesy...

[dlandon.livejournal.com]

I have a Best of Enya CD, and that's what I play when I'm in the bath and need music for relaxing.

- D

[navicat.livejournal.com]

I'd go for heavy metal, but you know that's just me, and maybe I'm strange, but it certainly puts me in a good and a 'I can do anything!' mood :)

*hugs*

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Makes perfect sense. When I try to think of tunes, I shun all that I usually listen to that is "calming" because it puts me in a neutral place. I tend, instead, to think of songs that are peppier or take me to times in my life where I wasn't doing anything special per se, but where I felt good.

[sunflower-sky.livejournal.com]

In my first birth I listened to the Hypnobirthing affirmations and then Eitan put on a CD of instrumental music with the sound of ocean waves. That was all there was time for...

My second birth was on the Sabbath, meaning no electronic devices unless I felt it was critical for my well-being, which I didn't. I provided my own soundtrack, and sang instead. ;)

I did prepare a soundtrack on my computer. It included the Hypnobirthing stuff, some quiet spiritual Jewish music, miscellaneous other quiet songs I felt were appropriate (like Become by the Goo Goo Dolls) and a few appropriate songs by Noa. This one in particular, which she wrote a few days before giving birth to her son. (It's a beautiful album, and her first one, Blue Touches Blue, is even better.)

During my first pregnancy I did yoga to One Cello X 16: Natoma by Zoe Keating and I brought it with me in the birth bag but there wasn't time to listen to it.

Good luck :)

~D

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

How about Skid Row's 18 and Life? ("Eighteen and life, you got it... 18 and life to go... your crime your time, now it's 18.. and ..life... to gooooo!")

But seriously, I couldn't even begin to think of music that would work. Anything jumpy would be too jumpy, and anything soothing, I'd imagine, would be as annoying as hell once you're in the thick of it.

[goblinwriter.livejournal.com]

Well, I listen to rap when I work out... :P

Calming feel-good vibes, though, hm. I'm not sure about calming, but Blackmore's Night is cheery and upbeat with a fun fantasy flavor. I have their Shadow of the Moon album (what geek wouldn't want a song called Renaissance Faire?).

Let us know if you find anything good. Good luck in there!

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Yeah, just the thought of anything soothing puts my teeth on edge already, makes me feel all growly. I'm thinking that is not the way I will go. Or at least, maybe only one or two songs. :P

You read my mind

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I was thinking the two CD route would be the way to go, too.

I'm counting on wonderful. Even if it is hard going through it, I know it will be an Everest once we reach the other side. :D

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Is this you, L??? :D

I'm thinking I'm going to want more cheery and upbeat rather than anything that sounds too laid back. I want more of a pumped feeling, you know, rather than some "Be calm and ye shall get through this" mumbo jumbo, at least mumbo jumbo is what I can see myself perceiving the calming stuff as when the little guy or gal is making the big break. :P

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Goo Goo Dolls could be a good choice.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

It is. Clicked through your link. You might not post much, but I friended you just in case I put up a locked post (very rare).

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I might could listen to "Sweet Transvestite" and "The Time Warp," even "Wild and Untamed Thing," but I don't know about "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me" or "I'm Going Home." :P

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

It isn't exactly heavy metal, but I'm thinking I might need Metallica's "Whiskey in the Jar" on my birthing soundtrack. :P

Re: Because I'm cheesy...

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I don't know that I have any of their music here (changed computers and all my cds are in storage), but they were one of the bands that occurred to me.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I'll have to look up Ortega on YouTube. I'm actually thinking Julien will appreciate having music more than I will. :P

[navicat.livejournal.com]

Good choice :)

[goblinwriter.livejournal.com]

Haha, yes, it's me.

I'm not a big LJ fan, but I know a lot of writers are, and I got tired of commenting anonymously (or not at all if they don't allow anon comments!).

~Lindsay