118 Labor & Birth Playlist Songs

Music changes the chemistry of your brain. We all react to and interact with music differently, depending on the type of music being played and our interests or dislikes in songs, artists, and genres of music. Practically everyone is impacted by the positive effects of music. For example, the right kinds of music have been proven to improve your mood and reduce pain, which sounds like (see what I did there) a perfect way to enhance your labor and birth!

Creating a labor playlist isn't new -- people have been using music for years and years as they labor and give birth. What is (relatively) new, is our access to technology and virtually any kind of music we could imagine. When thinking about the how and what of music for your birth, consider how you will play it -- ie, through what device and what kinds of speakers, earphones, etc., and what kinds of music you might enjoy. There's no way to know for sure what type of music will resonate most with you during different parts of your labor, so it's best to create a playlist or two  or three with lots of options. Put your birth partner/doula in charge as DJ on the big day, and go from there. You'll know instinctively in labor if the music works, needs to be switched, or shut off altogether. 

There are near endless options for song choices in labor, and of course, music is very personal. The following list contains 118 of the most popular songs people have used in labor playlists. Use this list as a starting point and then, personalize to your own tastes. Whether you create a playlist or listen to your favorite streaming stations during labor, be sure to include music on your plan for birth!  

118 Labor and Birth Playlist Songs

1. All About Loving You – Bon Jovi
2. All of Me – John Legend
3. Wake Up – Arcade Fire 
4. At Last – Etta James
5. Because I got high – Afroman
6. Best Day Of Your Life – Katie Herzig
7. Better Together – Jack Johnson
8. Blue – Beyoncé
9. Born this way – Lady Gaga
10. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
11. Brass Monkey – Beastie Boys
12. Brave – Sara Bareilles
13. Break Free (ft. Zedd) – Ariana Grande
14. Breathe – The prodigy
15. Breathe – Faith Hill
16. Breathe (ft. Ina Wroldsen) – Jax Jones
17. Breathin' Ariana Grande
18. Closing Time – Semisonic
19. Capri – Colbie Caillat 
20. Counting Stars – One Republic
21. After the Moment – Craft Spells
22. Really Love – D’Angelo
23. Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins
24. Transatlanticism – Death Cab for Cutie 
25. Do You Believe in Magic – The Lovin’ Spoonful
26. Don’t Panic – Coldplay
27. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
28. Every Breath You Take – The Police
29. Everybody hurts – R.E.M.
30. Everything I Do (I Do It For You) – Bryan Adams
31. Everything's Gonna Be Alright David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney
32. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
33. Feel It Still – Portugal The Man
34. Fighter – Christina Aguilera
35. Your Protector – Fleet Foxes
36. Forever Young – Rod Stewart
37. Get Ready for This – 2Unlimited
38. Get This Party Started – Pink!
39. Gonna Make You Sweat – C & C Music Factory
40. Got to Get You Into My Life – The Beatles
41. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
42. Happy – Pharrell Williams
43. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
44. Here’s to Never Growing Up – Avril Lavigne
45. Hold On – Wilson Phillips
46. Hold You in My Arms – Ray LaMontagne
47. Hot In Here – Nelly
48. Hurt So Good – John Mellencamp
49. I want to break free – Queen
50. I Want Your Sex – George Michael
51. I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
52. I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
53. I Would Die 4 You – Prince
54. I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
55. I’m On Fire – Bruce Springsteen
56. If I were a boy – Beyonce
57. If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows) – Rodney Atkins
58. Naked As We Came – Iron & Wine
59. Isn't She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
60. It’s Time – Imagine Dragons
61. Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 – Johann Sebastian Bach, Yo-Yo Ma 
62. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) – John Lennon
63. Jump in the line – Harry Belafonte
64. Stay – Kygo, Maty Noyes
65. Le Freak – Chic
66. Let It Go – Idina Menzel
67. Let it Go – James Bay
68. Let’s Get It Started in Here – Black Eyed Peas
69. Little Wonders – Rob Thomas
70. Fruits of My Labor – Lucinda Williams
71. Nos Bailes Da Vida – Milton Nascimento 
72. Starlight– Muse
73. Must Get Out – Maroon 5
74. My Girl – The Temptations
75. Sunrise – Norah Jones 
76. Nothing Else Matters – Apocalyptica
77. Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship
78. Orinoco Flow – Enya
79. Heavenly Day – Patty Griffin
80. Just Breathe – Pearl Jam
81. Push – Madonna
82. Push It – Salt n Pepa
83. Nightswimming – R.E.M. 
84. Don’t Leave Me – Regina Spektor 
85. Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood
86. Release Me – Wilson Phillips
87. Right Here Waiting – Richard Marx
88. Roar – Katy Perry
89. Run the World (Girls) – Beyoncé
90. Send me on my way – Rusted Root
91. She's My Baby – The Traveling Wilburys
92. Festival – Sigur Rós 
93. Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
94. Strong Enough – Cher
95. Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
96. Stubborn Love – The Lumineers
97. Survivor – Destiny’s Child
98. Sweet Child O' Mine – Guns n Roses 
99. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
100. The Circle of Life – Elton John
101. The Drugs Don't Work – The Verve
102. Ho Hey – The Lumineers
103. The Power – Snap!
104. They Say It’s Your Birthday – Paul McCartney
105. Try – Pink
106. Two – Lenka
107. With or Without You – U2 
108. Under Pressure – David Bowie/Queen
109. We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel
110. Welcome to the jungle – Guns ‘N’ Roses
111. Impossible Germany – Wilco
112. With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker
113. Follow the Sun – Xavier Rudd
114. Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs 
115. You Belong to Me – Taylor Swift
116. You Can Do It (Put Your Back Into It) – Ice Cube/Mack 10
117. Young and Beautiful – Lana Del Rey
118. Your Love Is A Drug – Ke$ha