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