GABRIELLE’S HEALING SONG
A LOOK AT THE WOMB SONG WRITING PROCESS
*names changed for client anonymity
Gabrielle and her husband Chris were some of my very first Womb Song clients in 2015. I wrote a very simple song with them in the span of 5 minutes over video chat, and they used the song throughout the rest of their pregnancy.
“One of our favorite experiences was, in the span of no more than five minutes, writing a womb song with Beth's assistance. We sang this song to our son almost every night, and often did so after he was born.” - Chris, in 2015 after writing my first womb song with them
I was so excited when Gabrielle emailed me in 2018, letting me know they were pregnant with their second baby and wanted to write a Womb Song for her. I met with them over video chat and we talked about how Gabrielle’s pregnancy was going and how they were both feeling about this new baby coming into their lives. They’d both been feeling somewhat ambivalent about having a second child, and it had been a rough first trimester. Gabrielle had recently turned 40, had gotten a new job, they were in the process of moving, and as Gabrielle said during our interview, “being pregnant with a toddler is exhausting.”
Gabrielle felt like she had some prenatal depression during her first trimester, and was also feeling like she and Chris needed to do some healing around their son Aiden’s birth. They had a traumatic first birth that ended with a vacuum extraction in the OR, with the possibility of a c-section looming if Gabrielle wasn’t able to push Aiden out.
BABY’S HEALTH ISSUES
To add to the stresses of her first trimester, Gabrielle and Chris had learned that their baby girl had a blood clot in her head, a very rare occurrence. There were no other abnormalities, and there was a strong chance that the clot would shrink on its own. But this medical issue created lots of fear for Gabrielle and Chris, and they were both very hesitant to get too attached to this baby, for fear that they might lose her.
On the day we video chatted, they had received their first positive news - their baby’s clot was smaller! They were feeling relief, while still being wary of what the future would hold, and if her clot would continue to shrink.
MY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR CONVERSATION
During our conversation, Gabrielle said several things that stood out to me:
“Use my blood to help move and heal this for you.”
“If I could do anything I would just take [the clot] away. Just wish I could suck it right out, and blow it out into the universe.”
“I want the healing to happen within me…I want to create a healing environment within myself.”
As a songwriter, there are times when a song doesn’t come for weeks, and it feels like a struggle to get my ideas on paper. This was not one of those times. This song came to me the next day, and flowed out of me effortlessly. I titled the song that I wrote for Gabrielle her “Healing Song,” and I wrote this in my email to Gabrielle and Chris:
After our meeting, I came away with such feelings of love for you guys, and for this little baby that will be here soon. You both talked about your fears and anxieties about your baby's blood clot, and Gabrielle mentioned wanting a song that could help her to connect with the baby and release some of her fears. I pictured her lying in bed at night, and breathing deeply to release her fears, putting her hand on her belly, and connecting with this little being inside.
This song came to me the next day, and I realized that I am going to write TWO songs for you guys! This song is not your womb song for your baby, but it's more of a healing song for Gabrielle. It is a chant that is meant to remind you that you are safe, baby is safe, and your body is a place of peace and healing. I picture you listening to it at times when you really want to connect with her, and as you listen to it, I hope you visualize peace and healing going to her with every breath you take.
GABRIELLE’S HEALING SONG
My heartbeat is your heartbeat
My body is a place of peace
My blood is your blood
Healing happens within me
My heartbeat is your heartbeat
My body is a place of peace
My blood is your blood
Healing happens within me
I breathe in and give you my breath
I breathe out and release
Any pain or struggle
The universe takes from me
My heartbeat is your heartbeat
My body is a place of peace
My blood is your blood
Healing happens within me
My heartbeat is your heartbeat
My body is a place of peace
My blood is your blood
Healing happens within me
Together we are healing
The heaviness of the past
Stepping into a beautiful new day
The light surrounds us
My heartbeat is your heartbeat
My body is a place of peace
My blood is your blood
Healing happens within me
[REPEAT TO END]
I incorporated several instruments into the song, including a Tibetan singing bowl, a buffalo drum, guitar and bells. I wanted the song to feel very meditative, and I kept a steady heartbeat rhythm on the buffalo drum to remind Gabrielle to connect with her heart center and visualize sending healing energy and blood to her baby.
GABRIELLE AND CHRIS’ FEEDBACK
The feedback I got from Gabrielle and Chris filled my heart with joy and gratitude. They loved the song just as much as I did, and Gabrielle shared it with friends, family, and even with her prenatal yoga class. Here are several of the things Gabrielle shared with me in an email:
“The song is beautiful, so personal. I feel so heard and reflected, very powerful for me.”
“I have already used the song a few times to relax and connect with the baby. I feel she is so lucky to be held in this way before even being born.”
“Chris said he feels like everything is going to be ok after hearing the song, even more than the results from the scan.”
“You really capture my wishes for healing and it makes me just close my eyes and take deep breaths immediately, focusing on oxygenating and healing.”
“Healing happens within me. I fell asleep without anxiety last night. I really feel like it’s getting better and I am enjoying being pregnant again!”
“Music is such a strong way for me to connect with the fetus and help me to relax…you’ve given us a real tool and we share it together. Chris was holding my belly last night while we listened to the song and took deep breaths. It was so peaceful and connected for all three of us. I think music really allows for that inclusion of partners into the experience.”
“The healing song is such a great tool for me. I use it during acupuncture or any anxious times. I swear since we talked together, everything has felt better.”
Since writing this song for Gabrielle and Chris, their baby’s clot has continued to shrink. The song is a tool they continue to use when they feel anxious, stressed, or want to connect with their baby.
It is such an honor to be able to create special songs for families as they await their new baby. This is why I do what I do, and I’m grateful every day that I’ve found this path.