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