Spotify creates birthing playlist to help women in labour

Music streaming service Spotify have released a “birthing playlist”, featuring songs in an order that is “scientifically-designed” to help alleviate the anxiety of women who are in labour.

The songs were chosen by Dr. Jacques Moritz, an American obstetrician-gynecologist, who says around 70% of his patients rely on music to help get them through labour.

“Hospitals, particularly delivery rooms, can be noisy and disconcerting,” he said. “A good playlist helps distract mothers from these sounds and better manage fear and pain.”

The playlist contains 30 tracks in total, including aptly named selections such as “Under Pressure” (David Bowie and Queen), “Just Breathe” (Pearl Jam), and “Naked As We Came” (Iron & Wine).

It starts with mellow songs, then segues into those with a stronger beat when it is time to push.

Coldplay’s “Don’t Panic” and Pink’s “Try” are in the middle stages of labour, while REM’s “Nightswimming” and Beyonce’s “Blue” offer help towards the very end.

The last song on the list is Bach’s “Unaccompanied Cello Suite #1” – to be played during mum’s first cuddle with her newborn baby.

 

Here’s the complete track list, which you can listen to here:

  1. Pearl Jam – Just Breathe
  2. James Bay – Let It Go
  3. Regina Spektor – Don’t Leave Me
  4. Sigur Rós – Festival
  5. Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism
  6. The Lumineers – Ho Hey
  7. Norah Jones – Sunrise
  8. Craft Spells – After the Moment
  9. Xavier Rudd – Follow the Sun
  10. Lucinda Williams – Fruits of My Labor
  11. John Lennon – Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
  12. Colbie Caillat – Capri
  13. D’Angelo – Really Love
  14. Milton Nascimento – Nos Bailes Da Vida
  15. Coldplay – Don’t Panic
  16. Fleet Foxes – Your Protector
  17. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps
  18. Kygo (feat. Maty Noyes) – Stay
  19. P!nk – Try
  20. Muse – Starlight
  21. John Legend – All of Me – Tiesto’s Birthday Remix
  22. David Bowie, Queen – Under Pressure
  23. U2 – With or Without You
  24. Wilco – Impossible Germany
  25. Arcade Fire – Wake Up
  26. R.E.M. – Nightswimming
  27. Patty Griffin – Heavenly Day
  28. Iron & Wine – Naked As We Came
  29. Beyoncé – Blue
  30. Johann Sebastian Bach, Yo-Yo Ma – Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1