Great things happen when a woman vocalizes during childbirth.  Many times a woman will create her own birth soundtrack, whether it be humming, chanting or full out singing.  Vocalizing helps your body to relax, sending vibrations throughout your body and down to your cervix, helping the labour process along.

According to “Love to Birth“, some of the benefits of singing during labour are:

Love to Birth is an Australian doula service that offers a workshop called “Birthsong”, where they teach moms how to utilize their voice during their birthing.

Recently I was at a birth where the woman used music.  She had been up all night with some pretty intense contractions, felt as if she were at her breaking point, and then said, “hand me my guitar”.  With guitar in arms she played, and she sang, and she changed.  The music relaxed her body so much, that even though she was still having hard contractions, she sang right through them.  She said the singing changed the direction of her labour, created a distraction that enabled her to relax, reenergize and move forward.  It was amazing.

Singing Black Horse and The Cherry Tree

**photos and reference used with permission

Below is a video of a woman who sang during her birthing experience, it is beautiful.  I am finding more and more women that use music/singing during labour.