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How Singing Along During Labour Can Help

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Using music to ride out labour pain?

Going back a long way 1988 to be precise I had a sony walkman and cassettes for singing along during labour.  For those of you who are too young to remember this was a small device, you could play music on and carry around with you. Now we have the iPhone.

In early 1988, I had three favourite artists Terence Trent Derby, Michael Jackson and Bill Joel whose music I enjoyed and listened to quite a lot. In fact, after a few months, I could sing along all be it painful to listen to for those around me, I knew all the words eventually. I have to say at this point I am no singer, I stand in the camp of tone deaf so I am told but hey who cares I had a plan.

MY PLAN TO HELP ME DURING LABOUR

After my first labour not going quite to plan I figured out that if I got so engrossed with music it might help me during the next labour ahead. My waters broke two weeks early so I made sure I grabbed my Sony Walkman along with my cassettes. Once I was admitted and ushered into a room I quickly put my plan into action. This was not my first baby so I knew what was ahead.

Once the labour was in full flow I got my sony walkman out. With my headphones strapped to my head singing loudly along to my Terence Trent Derby, Michael Jackson and Bill Joel cassettes I realised my plan singing along during labour was actually working. I felt sorry for my husband and the midwife having to listen to me.

As the labour pains were getting stronger I was able to ride the pain better by focusing on trying to remember the words to every song it took my mind off the intensity of the waves of labour pains. Towards the last 10 mins, I also had some gas & air to push through the final stage. On the whole, I felt the labour went very well and my plan had worked. Music had really helped mind over matter by diverting my attention from the pain to trying to remember the words and singing them.

You can find visualisations can really help too, I cover this plus many more relaxation techniques on my Well Conceived course, even though you are now pregnant you still need to be working on yourself.

Hop on my mini visualisation course instant access to learning about visualisations just click on the link for more information.

Preparing for the birth

So for you ladies out there who are getting ready to have those little bundles of joy, give this a try, learn the words to your favourite songs put them on your phone or take in a mp3 player. You need to practice this and the better you will get, do not let your mind drift stay focused on the here and now. If you find yourself drifting into what’s for dinner, then take a break. Try and do this for about 45 mins a day, you can do this whilst doing other odd jobs, as long as you are concentrating on those words.

It is not to say that Singing Along During Labour method is the best but it certainly can help you along.

You could also try the below.

Mindful Hypnobirthing: Hypnosis and Mindfulness Techniques for a Calm and Confident Birth

The Beauty Of Visualisation

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WHAT IS VISUALISATION?

The Beauty Of Visualisation – Visualisation is a Mental Image you can create, also referred to as a Visual Mental Rehearsal (VMR).

WHY IS VISUALISATION IMPORTANT?

Our mind plays an important role in the creation of our experience, and therefore it may be possible to ‘program’ our mind and body to act in a certain way to gain positive results.

A visualisation can be a very handy tool if used correctly and can help get you through difficult times. The idea of a visualisation is to transport yourself into what you are visualising. You are creating a mental image and using your senses to achieve this.

For success
Athletes are taught to visualise winning and holding the medal, what if feels like to win, the euphoria of collecting your medal, the crowds screaming. What it feels like to touch the medal, what you feel like now you have the medal, the sweet smell of success.

Of course, you need to plan your visualisation, thinking the process through helps to focus the mind on potential problems and how to overcome them. This in turn then helps you to overcome those problems when they arise. This is the beauty of visualisation it can be practised beforehand in preparation.

For addiction problems
Patients are taught to visualise how they will deal with the temptation of alcohol, drugs, comfort eating etc. Then when the temptation comes along they already have a tool in place to help them.

For sleep problems
Visualisations can help to take you to your place where it is peaceful and relaxing. They take you away from trying too hard to get to sleep again a distraction and before you know it you are asleep.

For pain relief
I had a slight twist on this one as I actually try as much as possible to tackle pain relief through music and image creation. On the run up to past operations I listened to and memorised several music tapes and took them and my sony walkman into the hospital (this was long before Itunes). Alongside this, I had created a mental image of me singing on the beach with the sun beating down on me, the smell of the sea and the sand between my toes.

Through the pain I sang along and went to my mental image of me singing on the beach. As I knew all the words this was a huge distraction from the pain as I was trying so hard to remember the words.

For all the above they need to be different visualisations to help overcome different problems, one does not fit all.

So try and figure out what kind of visualisation you need to create, is it for relaxation, to succeed, to prevent temptation, better sleep, pain relief etc.

Visualisations can help to take you to your place where it is peaceful and relaxing or build you up for success.

Design You Own Visualisation

  • Think of your favourite place or memory
  • Write this down
  • Pick an image & colours to go with this, I always find this helps if it is a warm place, though if I think of something cold I feel cold. Have a go & try various ideas.
  • Record this on your phone or computer, do not worry how it sounds, this is just reinforcing the visualisation in your mind.
  • This needs to become so familiar so you can go there whenever you need to.
  • I expect there are even apps to help you now as well.
  • Then practice, practice, practice