The power of music during pregnancy and labour

I am an advocate of the healing capabilities of music, in particular during pregnancy. Music plays a significant role in my pregnancy yoga and mum and baby yoga classes as a result. 

It is said that music has a soothing effect on our emotions as it helps us de-stress, relax and changes our mood for the better.

While there is no concrete evidence yet on the impacts of music inside a womb, listening to your favourite songs while pregnant will brighten you up, and who knows, your baby inside could also be enjoying it.

While you are pregnant, listening to music will not only have a soothing and uplifting effect on you but also a positive influence on your unborn baby. The positive vibes that you get from listening to music will create a prenatal stimulation that will help you to bond with your unborn baby. It will enable you to lower your stress and anxiety levels and also reduce any stress that your unborn baby may feel in the womb.

In addition to the above, many researchers believe that your unborn baby will be able to remember the music and the sounds that you listened to while you were pregnant. If you listen to certain soothing songs while you are pregnant, it is highly likely that your baby will remember them even after birth. It means that you can use the same music to soothe your little one after he/she is born. Your baby will be able to recognize the sounds and it will help to relax and calm your baby instantly.

It is for this reason that I play many of the songs from my pregnancy yoga playlist during Mum and Baby Yoga. It also brings back the beautiful and poignant memories of our pregnancy yoga class together during which that initial bond with baby is formed. This special bond continues during Mum and Baby Yoga with music evoking these emotions and memories again. Personally, I am convinced my son recognised the songs I played during my pregnancy in particular during the first few months of his life. I found the one song that could soothe him to sleep was by Essie Jain titled " I love you ". This is a song I play each week at my pregnancy yoga classes and to this day it is his favourite song.

When you’re planning a celebration, a party or a wedding, at some point consideration is usually given to the music that will enhance the event.  In the same way it’s worth thinking about the benefits that music can bring to labour and birth and the ways in which it can help you on your big day.

I have listed below my favourite songs to play during pregnancy, labour and once baby arrives into the world. 

Essie Jain - " Opening"

Essie Jain - " O, I love you" 

Enya - " Smaointe" 

Enya - " Paint the sky with stars" 

Nichole Nordeman - " Slow down" 

Jack Harrison - " Sarvesham" 

Craig Pruess & Ananda - " Devi Prayer" 

I do hope you enjoy 

Tríona  x