The Power of Music

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 9.

As evening approached on Feb. 20 of this year, expectant first-time parents Katelyn and Ryan Kanaley settled into their labor and delivery room at the hospital. Katelyn was in labor with their first child, and contractions were slowly starting to intensify. 

In the room, with nerves and anticipation, one thing remained steady – the comforting presence of music, a Spotify playlist that Katelyn had created with songs that she hoped would set a calming mood. One song on the playlist has remained a constant throughout Katelyn’s life, and she made sure to include it on the playlist. 

Katelyn’s late father, Fred Bowyer, was the beloved principal of Condit Elementary School for 13 years. He passed away in fall 2022 after living with Marfan syndrome for thirty years. When Katelyn was growing up, Fred had always loved the music of Elvis Presley including the song “Fools Rush In”. When Katelyn was a teenager, the 1997 romantic comedy Fools Rush In, starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek, came out. Katelyn loved the movie, and she would watch it often. She and her father bonded over their love of music, singing, and Elvis.

Fast forward to Katelyn’s wedding, where Fred walked her down the aisle to their favorite song, a remake of the Elvis classic “Fools Rush In, Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Haley Reinhart. Katelyn was thrilled to add the sentimental song to her delivery room playlist – a nod to her memories with her late father and the day of her wedding. 

Katelyn and Ryan had decided to bring the playlist as a necessity on their hospital packing list. “Music is so powerful, and so motivational,” said Katelyn. After a nights’ rest with her epidural, and with the hospital staff ready in the room, they hit play on their playlist. Some of the artists on the playlist, titled “KK labor playlist,” included John Legend, Mumford and Sons, Coldplay, and Alabama Shakes. The playlist was not in any order, and the songs were shuffling as she was starting to push.

Katelyn’s mom, Olga Bowyer, recounted the moments leading up to the birth of her grandson with nostalgia. "I know right before the last push, the [Haley Reinhart] song came on," Olga recounted. The same song Katelyn had walked down the aisle to with her dad on her wedding day. As the song played, she pushed in labor. 

"Katelyn was pushing, drawing strength from her father's memory,” Olga said. “She knew she could do it because her dad had faced challenges due to his medical issues. If he could endure, she could too."

Baby Rhodes Frederick Kanaley was born at 11:16 a.m. on Feb. 21, weighing seven pounds, while that familiar tune played, filling the room with memories of Fred. Katelyn often sings to Rhodes and listens to the playlist with him. Olga visits them in Los Angeles where they live. “I try to spend as much time as I can," she said, reflecting on the precious bond she shares with her grandson. 

A MAGICAL MOMENT Katelyn’s late father Fred Bowyer walked her down the aisle to their favorite song, a remake of the Elvis classic “Fools Rush In, Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Haley Reinhart.

They hold the cherished memories close. “Fools Rush In” will always bring a connection to her father's love for Elvis Presley, whose rendition of the title song became a motivation in the delivery room for Katelyn.

The power of music to calm nerves and alleviate pain is well-documented. Numerous studies, such as from the National Institutes of Health, have shown that music has a profound effect on reducing anxiety and stress, making it an invaluable tool in the delivery room. Research has found that music can trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin, two hormones known to help promote relaxation.

For Katelyn and Ryan, the decision to incorporate music into their birthing experience was a no-brainer. "We knew we wanted music to distract from the pain," Katelyn explained. "It was something we agreed on beforehand. Music is so calming."

As Katelyn faced each contraction, the song that came on at the right time, unplanned, served as a reminder of her father's love and support throughout her life. She participated in musical theater during middle school and high school, and as a result, music and singing have always been a big part of her life. “[Growing up], we would sing in the kitchen while we were cleaning up,” said Katelyn. 

For Olga, her daughter's sentimental birthing experience was an extra special reminder of her late husband. Rhodes’ grandfather and namesake, Fred, is living on in memory through music.