After going through what seemed like a million songs, I came up with 4 playlists.  The first playlist entitled "Meditation" was filled with soothing rhythms that helped me to relax....lots of jazz, love songs, and even some of those new aged meditation songs with names like "Serenity", you know the kind you get from the yoga aisle at Target. 



The second playlist entitled "Motivation" was filled with inspirational songs to help me get through those inevitable times in labor where I felt like "I just can't take it anymore!!!"  Songs like India Arie's I Choose, and Jill Scott's Gotta Get Up. 



The third playlist entitled "Hips Movin" was filled with songs that made me wana dance and move my hips, a fun way to inspire me to help work the baby down (walking up and down the halls gets boring)....lots of reggae, belly dance songs and songs that make me say "ooooh dats my song!"



Finally I made a "Happy Birthday" playlist with Steve Wonder's song (the official Black happy birthday song) at the top of the list along with other baby song favorites like Lauren Hill's Zion.

The big day finally comes- in the middle of the night- and we get to work.  The music works like a charm! I found that I was able to get in the zone much easier and faster because of the music.  It also worked to alert the Birthing Team how to enter the room. For instance when I had the Meditation music playing, everyone entered the room quietly and spoke softly, whereas during the Hips Movin jam session we almost got a Soul Train line going. 

The music also inspired members of the Birthing Team to get more involved.  As we rounded the 7th hour of my perfect 4 hour birth I got a little discouraged.  So we decided to take a break from the music for a while and we sent everyone out of the room except David and our Doula.  As David and I grew weary our Doula started to sing a traditional African song that rested easy on my ears like a mother's lullaby. The sound of her voice singing gave me so much comfort it renewed my will to press on. 



Shortly thereafter we turned the iPod back on during the pushing stage.  In contrast to the typical pushing scene where there is a whole bunch of shouting and counting, I was moved close to tears as our Doula, Midwife and my mother softly sung along to India Arie's This Too Shall Pass  between contractions. 



Our daughter arrived on June 14, 2007 with her right fist raised high and a soundtrack in her heart. I can honestly say that the music was a major part of getting me through it.