Music in labour

So I'm making an iPod playlist to take into hospital with me... anyone got any recommendations for good music to listen to in labour? I don't think I had any last time, but hoping for a more relaxed experience this time (pfffft) and might be nice to chill with a few tunes early on...

Ha. We had this on our list of things to do. But someone showed up two weeks early. I remember a request for nina Simone.

I remember listening to a lot of Cat Power, which was nice, though a bit melancholy.

Thanks. It's hard to look through your iTunes and think, "Hmm, what will sound good when I'm in excruciating agony?" So far I've burned Talk Talk's 'Spirit Of Eden', Scenic's 'Acquatica' and Spiritualized's 'Songs In A&E' (seemed apt...)

I took tons of cds with me and didn't listen to any - I was too 'in the zone' to even think of music, so I can't help I'm afraid!

Same here - I think maybe if I'd had a longer labour I would have listened to something at the start, but in the event it was the furthest thing from my mind.

We have a piano in the room where jr is due to arrive any day now - I think my hamfisted rendition of chopsticks will surely chivvy things along.

Ooh, are you having a home birth? <jealous>

I forgot to bring any music, and the room had cable tv so I ended up watching a Mad Men marathon. It helped distract from the pain and seemed to make the time pass a little more quickly.

Music? Christ, didn't even think about music. I did bring books (one focusing on sexuality in the middle ages which of course made a midwife go o0). Didn't read music of course.

What about Salt"n"Peppa Push It? heehee. I think I'd go for some Shuggie Otis, Portishead,...

A homebirth! I'm beyond jealous although I'd be too scared to contemplate it. :-)

Well, at this rate I might not get my relaxing water-birth-with-iPod anyway. Apparently the baby is measuring big, and if I don't go into labour naturally by next Tuesday they might have to induce me (due date was yesterday but head isn't engaged and no sign of anything imminent).

SO I have a week to get this baby moving!

Stardust by Willie Nelson.

Meg, you know you don't have to give in to their bullying tactics, don't you? That estimating birthweights is never an exact science even when using ultrasound? Anyway, a week is a long time in overdue land!

Yes, well the same midwife kept telling me all through my pregnancy with Howie that he was going to be a big baby, and he was 7lb 4oz! So I'm not too worried at the moment, but still hoping I'll go into labour naturally before next week and thus solve the problem.

Woman in labo(u)r - what's on your iPod?

Stardust by Willie Nelson.

Good call. I'm going to put that on right now!

Well, at this rate I might not get my relaxing water-birth-with-iPod anyway. Apparently the baby is measuring big, and if I don't go into labour naturally by next Tuesday they might have to induce me (due date was yesterday but head isn't engaged and no sign of anything imminent).

This is what happened with me, it ended up going pretty well. But hopefully things will happen naturally before then.

one focusing on sexuality in the middle ages

Just out of interest - what was this book?