My first baby is due – in fact, he’s overdue, and I’m sure this week is the week. But I haven’t got my mixtape for the labour ready to take to hospital. What tunes do I need to get me through the emotional highs and lows that await?

Ah, childbirth: the Doctor remembers it all too well. Rudimentary biology lessons tell you the mechanics of what’s about to happen, but there’s absolutely no telling how you’ll feel. It can all be most surreal, so taking some music to hospital is a grand idea. The only sure thing about the road ahead is that there’s no going back, and it is nature that has the upper hand. So pack some humour in that bag, and loosen the control dial.

You mention highs and lows: aye, and there’ll be twists and turns, too, as the baby corkscrews its way out in its bid for freedom. So I’ve lined up some seriously deep grooves to help with the hip-wiggling dance of labour. Avenues And Alleyways by Tony Christie comes instantly to mind (sorry), ditto Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off.

When labour kicks in, it has to be reggae all the way. Line up Trojan Presents: Classic Reggae, an album that includes Desmond Dekker’s You Can Get It If You Really Want (try and try, you’ll succeed at last). Shout along to Toots And The Maytals’ 54-46 Was My Number, and there’s even a version of Twist And Shout on there (sorry, but humour will be key, I promise).

For the lows? The seriously hypnotic Le Pas du Chat Noir by Anouar Brahem, where the meandering oud is echoed by a piano and tickled by the odd puff from the bellows of an accordion. It makes for some seriously sumptuous chill time. Enjoy it: it’ll be precious from here on in.