Practicing With Your Labor & Delivery Playlist

Towards the end of my first pregnancy I began getting really anxious about my labor and delivery. My husband and I had taken the birthing class at our hospital, I had talked to my sister and some friends about their experiences, and had spent countless hours imagining how it would all play out. I wasn’t really afraid of the pain of contractions, but what scared me the most was the pushing. I was a “wait-and-see" type of person- I wasn’t against an epidural, but I also wanted to see what my body could do naturally.  

No one can be fully prepared or in control of how their labor process will go. And even from one baby to the next, it can be totally different. But here are a few tips you might incorporate into your nightly routine so that you can at least *feel* like you're preparing in the final months leading up to the big moment: 

• If you have a special song that you’ve been singing to your baby throughout your pregnancy, begin the routine with this to shift your focus to your baby. Getting comfortable using your singing voice will help you feel more comfortable and empowered to use your voice to advocate for yourself during your actual labor and delivery. 

• Listen to your birthing playlist while practicing different breathing and laboring techniques so that you can begin conditioning yourself to feel relaxed when hearing these songs. Coping with pain is easier when your mind is relaxed, and delivery is easier when your muscles are relaxed! 

• Visualize your ideal labor and delivery while listening to your playlist. If you can practice reframing your anxieties, your mind and body will begin to associate the music you have chosen with the positive outcome you desire. It will help you to feel more confident in your body’s abilities and more at peace with whatever may be in store for your unique delivery story! 

These are great exercises to do with your partner as well- you’ll be going through it together, after all!

If you haven’t seen my post about creating a playlist for labor and delivery, check it out!