Labor and birth is one of the most monumental days of your adult life. Don’t you think an event that memorable is deserving of the ultimate audio soundtrack? Read on for four ways the perfect playlist can help you achieve your best birth. And make sure you check out adora’s curated active labor playlist Sync it to your phone [ because hospital cell service is notoriously spotty! ] and be sure to share with your pregnant friends!

4 Reasons You Need the Perfect Labor Playlist

1. Singing boosts oxytocin

   The hormone oxytocin is the main driver of labor and birth. It signals the uterus to contract and promotes progression of labor. Research has shown that singing provides a significant boost in oxytocin as well as a decrease in cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone. That combination of good vibes and stress reduction can encourage a stalled labor to pick back up, or take you through active labor to transition more efficiently.

2. Nostalgia boosts oxytocin

   Nothing spurs an emotional reaction like music. Brain imaging studies have shown that our favorite songs - particularly those we latched on to during our teenage years - stimulate the brain’s pleasure circuits. These songs, more than any others, create a rush of hormones including - you guessed it - oxytocin! Other nostalgic activities could support labor as well - for example, looking at family photos on facebook, watching videos of your dog, or smelling your childhood blanket - but music during labor is an easy and passive way to take advantage of this effect.

3. Distraction decreases pain sensation

   Studies suggest that when you distract yourself from pain, you actually hurt less. Study participants who were subjected to slight pain on their forearms reported less discomfort when they were asked to perform a distracting mental test as the pain was delivered. Moreover, when participants were given a placebo “pain relief” cream, and distracted at the same time, their pain was even more reduced.

   In labor, this effect could be replicated by using singing [ or even lip syncing / listening to music ] as a distraction; layering this distraction on top of another pain relief measure such as the use of a TENS machine or laughing gas could make contractions even more bearable while you charge toward transition.

4. Music drives movement

   Is it even possible to hear music - particularly music you like, or a song that has meaning to you - without swaying or dancing? Movement creates physical distraction, and we already know that distraction can decrease pain sensation. But movement during labor is also a great way to create new and different space in the pelvis, allowing your baby to move down into and through the birth canal. If music spurs movement, and movement creates both distraction AND positive labor progress, this strategy is a win-win-win.

Now that you know the benefits of music and singing during labor, just what SHOULD you be listening to in order to create the perfect oxytocin-filled environment? Look no further! adora has curated the PERFECT labor playlist for Millennials! Jam packed full of the slow dance songs you loved in high school and junior high, you’re guaranteed to know the lyrics and be able to sing along without even thinking. Head over to YouTube Music for free access!