For those musical fanatics out there who just so happen to be excepting or already have little tots, this collection is for you. Rockabye Baby is a smart modern collection of lullabies for your babies influenced by popular and respected punk, metal, and classic rock artists. Head on over to their site to sample the albums. You’ll be amazed at how such great classics can be translated into soothing sounds for baby. I actually had to convince myself to not purchase some of these albums just for me, an adult, because they all sound so relaxing. I already have the adult artist versions of a lot of them, so I guess I can hold out for now. My favorites are the renditions of No Doubt, The Beatles, Radiohead and U2. There are a total of 26 artists they cover.
While classical sounds are the most recommended sounds for infants, these Rockabye Baby tunes are very gentle. What I like most about the concept behind this collection is that parents will be bound to sing or hum to their babies with the albums playing in the background. Such an experience will be enjoyable for both baby and parent. Music and singing can create a wonderful bonding experience and sweet memories.
Rockabye Baby is a division of the CMH Label Group, based in LA. Label Vice President Lisa Roth says, “First and foremost, we’re fans, so we take care to make every album musically interesting enough to satisfy adult listeners. Believe me, making an album that’s gentle enough for sleeping babies but won’t bore Mom and Dad is trickier than it sounds.”
Earlier this month I met Suzanne Caesar, MA while we were both speaking on the Pregnant New Yorker Panel. Suzanne has been featured both on NY1 and the Discovery Health Channel for her amazing Maternal Dance Classes for mother’s to be. I myself am an enthusiastic advocate and fan of music & dance and their power to heal, evoke, soothe, especially during pregnancy and childbirth. So I was more than thrilled to learn about Suzanne’s brilliant program and new DVD Rhythm For Life – The Prenatal Belly Dance Workout. The DVD is divded into 4 sections that can be completed all at once or individually. Each segment contains modifications for mothers dependeing on their trimester.
Suzanne is a certified prenatal yoga and Healthy Moms® fitness specialist with a Master of Arts in Dance. She eloquently crafted a easy and fun program for expectant moms integrating the natural sensual moves of dance and sound to:
If you have only a few weeks left to your due date and your baby is still in a breech position, know that there are several ways to turn your baby back to a vertex position. Here are 3 of the most popular recommendations:
Acupuncture
In 1998, a landmark study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association which found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian (which is on the pink toe). Moxibustion (Moxi) is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing and is believe to stimulate the flow of the qi.
Music & Sound
Babies are drawn to the sound of their parents’ voice and outside soothing sounds such as music. If your baby appears to be in the breech position, have either your partner speak to you baby directly at your pubic bone and/or play soothing music at that same location. You can do this for however long you want per day (it’s also great for bonding) till your baby turns.
Tilts and Position Techniques
There are a variety of positions and exercises such as walking or breech tilts that will encourage your baby to turn. It is also important to drink a lot of water. The healthier your amniotic fluid levels, the more room there is for baby to float and turn.
I found a great clip on Youtube that recaps these recommendations . The director of Yoga Bellies on the West Coast goes over some tilts and positioning to aide in turning your baby. As well, the clip shows an example of a Moxi treatment. Have a look:
Throughout pregnancy, not only is music beneficial and relaxing for your baby, but for you the mother, it is beneficial as well. Music serves several functions for the childbirth process including centering one’s awareness, distraction from pain, stimulating pleasure responses, focusing onthe breath, and as well it is a conditioned stimulus for relaxation.
If you think about it, whenever we go to our favorite cardio class, the instructor introduces a moderate level of music to get everyone’s body awake. As the pace begins to increase, we encourage ourselves to keep it going. Just at that moment when we begin to doubt our ability, an incredible song comes on that we love and a sudden jolt of energy and excitement flows and sustains us with energy beyond our peak. At the end of the class, a peaceful serene pace of music comes on to relax and ground us after our workout.
Of course labor is not the same as an hour long cardio class, but the principles of matching the types of music to the workout is rooted in the same school of thought of selecting music for your birth experience. Now when it comes to selecting one’s Labor Playlist, it is all based upon a mother’s individual preference. Sure, we all have some overlapping favorites and listen to the same top 40 hits. Atthe end of the day though, the music you select should be the sonic creations that make you want to sing at the top of your lungs with a smile and make you feel centered, grounded, and at peace. An Ipod and Ihome are perfect modern day gadgets to make this personalized playlist come to life. During your preparation period, categorize your selected music into 3 playlist folders based on the information below. Have your doula, partner, or support be in charge of monitoring to the playlist as you progress.
During Early Stages of Labor
In this stage of labor you will most likely want to relax and slowly blossom open while gaining your strength. Calm, peaceful, joyful, and serene music (however that fits your description) is ideal for this time.
Examples:
1. Classical Music
2. Nature Sounds
3. Artist who are accompanied by guitar or piano
During Active Labor and Transition
Music is proven to have a remarkable ability to raise endorphins within your system which can be a great tool during contractions. Those songs that make you feel powerful, warrioress like, are great for this stage of labor for it requires endurance and perseverance. Music can aide as your protective sustaining cocoon. Its supportive and grounding nature can prove wonders especially if you experience early labor at home and enter a hospital in active labor. Music will assist in creating a supportive and warm personal space in a hospital atmosphere. As you near transitioning, a time where you need emotional and spiritual support most, the sounds and music that grounds and empowers you most is ideal.
Examples:
1. Rhymic Tones
2. Drums
3. Music with Riffs and Melonic Pitches
After Birth
Soft gentle relaxing music is ideal for after the birth. It creates a soothing environment for mother & baby and allows them to recover into one another’s new found love and share that with their family and friends.
Examples:
1. Classical Music
2. Nature Sounds
3. No words
There are endless selections of songs you can choose from your exsiting CD collection, Itune downloads, or even friends’ music. As well there are several premade Childbirth soundtracks which can accentuate your playlist and contribute to your sonic memories.
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