We all like to prepare as much as possible before welcoming our little one into the world, from choosing the perfect birthing method to packing all the essentials in a shiny new labour bag.
But how about pre-planning exactly what you want to listen to as you give birth?
If sifting through Spotify yourself to make your playlist edits is at the bottom of your priority list right now, then search ‘Birthing Playlist’ and give the new one they’ve created a go instead.
That’s right, the music streaming site have compiled a list of tunes to accompany screaming mothers as their cervixes open, and it features soul-soothing favourites from Norah Jones, James Bay, Coldplay and D’Angelo.
More ironic choices include ‘Just Breathe’ by Pearl Jam, ‘Fruits Of My Labor’ by Lucinda Williams and ‘Under Pressure’ by Queen and David Bowie.
It’s funny now but, in the midst of labour? We’re not so sure…
Jacques Moritz, New York City-based gynecologist and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College, helped the app make the list after noting that as many as one in seven of his own patients create their own before their due date.
Moritz said: “Hospitals, particularly delivery rooms, can be noisy and disconcerting… a good playlist helps distract mothers from these sounds and better manage fear and pain.”
But if the likes of Muse and R.E.M. aren’t for you, then the gynaecologist suggests these rules for making your own:
• Make it lengthy. In case no one told you, this whole birth thing is no slow process. At least a five hour track list is advisable.
• Moritz recommends you add songs with “strong instrumentals” to keep you going
• In terms of structure, it's all about building the momentum. Put the mellow jams at the start and the increase the tempo leading up to the big push. Much like our Saturday night out playlists really, although, birthing rooms are NOT our idea of a party…
• Don’t experiment: “The delivery room is not the place to experiment with a new musician or genre,” Moritz makes clear. Noted.
• And this is one from us, make sure you really DO like all the songs on the list. Do you really want your baby to be born to The Cheeky Girls?
What do you make of the birthing playlist? Would you use it in the delivery room?
Let us know on our Facebook or Twitter page.