My husband describes a similar experience - I had prepared a CD of relaxing music, after labor I asked why it didn’t get played. He said that he turned it on and I bit his head off with some version of “honey, please turn off the music right now, I’m really not in the mood.” I do not recall this exchange.
30 Days in the Hole
With my son’s birth, it was James Taylor.
What can I say… my wife is a big fan, and it was certainly mellow enough for the circumstances.
Thanks for all the replies! I have lots to check out now. Yeah, who knows how it will really go, but I’d like to have it ready in case.
My Own Summer (Shove It) - the Deftones
Pushit - Tool
Break on Through to the Other Side - The Doors
Get Born - Jet
Git Up, Git Out - OutKast
Epidural in C Minor
Epidural Rock
The Epidural Symphony
Hotel Epidural
Also sprach Epidural
I hope the message is clear.
Workin’ in a Coal Mine by Devo
How about something by Air? Maybe something like “New Star In The Sky” or “Alone In Kyoto”?
Do you have any concert DVDs you enjoy? I saw the most lovely young couple put on a Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds concert DVD during her labor and birth, and it was so nice and mellow and poignant for them that I swear I’m buying a concert DVD for my own birth. There are some visuals in conjunction with the music to keep you focused on something, but they don’t demand your attention. And there was something very natural about the little breaks between songs where Dave would just play some chords or whatever–and I’m not a huge fan or anything, I just thought it was very nice. So if you have the option, check it out. Nothing with loud crowd cheering or moshing or anything, maybe something like the aforementioned James Taylor. My husband has put in a request for Fleetwood Mac’s The Dance. TUSK!
My daughter was born to Fire & Rain by James Taylor. I then heard it in my head for the next 3 weeks without stop.
To make you cry:
The Features “The Idea of Growing Old” (the rhythm and all is upbeat though, don’t know why I cry)
and, again, by The Features and just 'cuz it’s another upbeat sounding tune with a baby-seeming theme (I’m not a big enough fan to know what their songs really mean) That’s the Way It’s Meant to Be.
That’s exactly what I was NOT going to recommend! :rolleyes:
NOT a song for labor! It’s a song after the baby is safely out & is doing fine with Mom.
I dearly love that song, but there are overtones of Mom having difficulties during labor.
(Hoping no one recommends “Lightning Strikes” either.)
The recommendation of “I Will Survive” reminded me of the version by Cake, which did do a song which would be fine for labor- “Going the Distance”.
Go ahead an come armed with music, but I found once it really got going that any extraneous noise annoyed the hell out of me. You also might not want the association with any of your favorite music.
Maybe save it for just afterward, when you’re holding your new baby.
Slight nitpick, I think you mean “Lightning Crashes” by Live. Agreed that this is not a good labor song!!
Good thread as I was just thinking about this topic the other day. My baby is due in January but I was already thinking of the music I would want in the labor room. James Taylor is a great choice he will be at the top of my list!
The CD I had made was full of Vivaldi and Pachabel and other relaxing pastoral classical music. I find Pachabel’s Canon (aka Pachabel’s Greatest Hit) to be the most relaxing piece of music I’ve ever heard - under almost all circumstances I can lower my blood pressure just by humming it. Apparently, this was not the case during labor - but yes, do come prepared and bring whatever you think would help you through labor.
ETA: It might not be bad to make a few playlists (CDs, whatever you are using) for different moods. For instance, something that is very pastoral might be great for parts of labor, or you might get in and discover you really want Blues. You don’t want your husband to be searching the iPod for the song you want…
“Bodies” by Drowning Pool.
Ok. maybe not.
One of these days, I’m going to cut you into little pieces.
Pink Floyd, the ‘Meddle’ album
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Funny - with any of our daughter’s births, I do not remember my wife saying “What I really need right now is some good tunes!” 
I’m sure the Stones’ “Time Is On My Side” would be appreciated by any woman in labor.
Having been the male partner in 3 childbirths here is what you need:
1 An MP3 player loaded with the works of Van Morrison.
2 A set of quality earbuds that will block out all external noise.
3 A large bottle of homemade premixed bourbon and coke.
Give 1,2 and 3 to your partner and just play it by ear from there.
He will be drinking and listening to Van “the man” while you carry on with stuff like… (from my experience):
I’m getting sick of this. I’m going home you can do the rest of it.
Let’s forget about this we already have a kid.
Just put it back and we will try again later.