I am talking about breathing techniques for birth so that you can be fully in control of your breath in the labor and birth process.
I’m Annabelle with Pearently, helping you give birth naturally. We bring you weekly videos to build your confidence in birth.
Getting in tune with your breath is so important in getting ready for labor and birth.
Breathing is a form of relaxation in labor, and we all want to be as relaxed as possible in the midst of labor.
We are not usually conscious of our breath in the day to day, and if we don’t practice, then we tend to do the wrong kind of breathing in labor (hyperventilate or hold our breath).
That is why I am going to teach you about the best kinds of breathing in labor so that you can practice these breathing techniques NOW to make them a part of your muscle memory. Then you won’t even have to think about it in labor.
Practice these breathing techniques while you exercise (walking, prenatal pilates, prenatal yoga), wait in traffic in your car, or on the toilet. Let’s get started!!
Before I go any further, I want to mention my FREE Natural Birth Workbook! This 4 Step Process is a great start if you are considering a med-free birth. Click the button below to download the workbook…
I have a few tips to breathing that need to be applied to every kind of breath. Be calm in your breath, focus on the out-breath, relax (especially jaw and shoulders), breathe your tension away, and close your eyes to imagine a safe, calm, special place while you stroke your baby in your belly. Always take a deep cleansing breath before each contraction and after each contraction.
Here are three different types of breathing for each phase of labor:
Deep Breath
This is for the active phase of labor. This breath begins with a deep inhale and long exhale.
Breathe deep in the diaphragm as it expands to fill your belly with air and space for baby.
Breathe in for about 4 seconds (in through your nose), and breathe out for about 6 seconds (out through your mouth).
Add some muscles while you practice. This will help you have a faster healing process after birth. Expand your ribcage with each inhale. Feel the corset around your abdomen with your exhale. Add a pelvic floor lift by squeezing your vagina and lifting up towards your chest with the exhale. Tuck your hips.
Transition Breath
This is for the transition phase of labor. This breath has a hee-hee-hoo sound with a periodic long exhale (after 5 hee-hee-hoo’s say huhhhhh). Lift your chin to keep from holding your breath and to prevent pushing. When the contraction ends, take a big deep cleansing breath and rest until the next contraction.
Birthing Breath
This is for the pushing stage of labor.
This breath is similar to the abdominal breath, but we add a couple of things. Open up space for baby as you inhale, and exhale with a squeeze in your belly like your belly is hugging on baby. Imagine, as you breathe out, that you are helping your contractions move baby out into this world. Breathe deeply in, and breath out with a groan in the back of throat. Tuck your chin, curl forward, and push with the out-breath.
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