Drumming? Has anyone done this?

Bemma09

Hello there,

I am not yet pregnant, but I know I will be doing a natural birth. I am really nervous about the pain but I am not willing to do an epidural or have any medications unless it's an emergency or something. (Pain is not an emergency.)  I've been lurking around reading tips and methods for birthing naturally, but I haven't read anyone touching on drumming.

I love drumming for many reasons outside of birth. Related to birthing, I understand it can be good for drawing your mind to one single thing and not letting it wander, and also for keeping your focus on your body and being present with your experience.

I am worried about being able to do this in whatever facility I end up giving birth in.  I am not sure if I am comfortable with a home birth, because I live in a rural area of Montana.  God forbid anything should go wrong...

Does anyone have any insight? Has anyone utilized drumming for their births? 

Tarta

I've never heard of drumming for birthing. I'll have to go google it. Just wanted to say I'd recommend looking into Hypnobabies or other hypno-anesthesia for a natural birth if you're nervous about the pain. It's my current pain management plan and the deep relaxation is pretty nice too.

alanap

I had never heard of it, but was intrigued so I googled it.

https://healing.about.com/od/drums/a/drumtherapy_2.htm 

Interesting concept!

seethesmiles

We watched a movie in my Bradley class in which a woman used a gong-like thing. Her husband would hit the gong when a contraction started and she'd match the pitch with her voice while exhaling. I have to admit that I thought it was kind of weird while I was watching the movie. But when I was in labor with DS, that movie, for some reason, came back to me and I tried finding a tone that resonated with my pain. It was incredibly helpful. I have to say that it was, by far, the best thing I got out of my Bradley class. I'm not sure if what you're referring to with the drumming is similar but I definitely believe you can "cancel out" the pain or at least distract yourself to the point where the pain is more tolerable.

AnaKat405

Makes sense to me!  One of my friends has been drumming (on a kit) since we were in junior high together and now uses therapeutic drumming in working with kids with behavioral issues (ADHD), because that was what he contributes to being a major help to him (I didn't know this back then).

I don't know what type of set up you use for drumming, but I don't see why it couldn't be modified and incorporated into your birthing situation.

Bemma09

Thank you all for your input. The drumming I'm talking about goes back to ancient times.  The drums used in this type of drumming are often frame drums, or simple drums used to mimic tribal drums. If you've ever heard Native American drumming and chants this is similar to what I'm talking about.  It is often used in conjunction with the hypnobirthing thing too. I think to just help with the deep relaxation. I've even heard of the husband playing the drum over the mother's lower back as she's contracting. This is to help her "go within" and "be present with" her pain.