Breathing techniques for childbirth can be a useful tool to keep calm during the birth but also support the birthing process. Being calm and relaxed during childbirth can make the birth of your baby easier, quicker and more comfortable. There are many ways to help yourself or your partner to be calm during childbirth. Breathing techniques are just one of them.
How can breathing techniques help the birthing process?
Some researchers think there are a couple of different ways that breathing might support the birthing process by using the technique as a form of pain management. When you focus on your breathing, it may interrupt the transmission of pain/discomfort signals to your brain by giving you something else, more positive to focus on. Being aware of your breathing and focussing on it, may also work by stimulating the release of your body’s natural pain-relieving hormones endorphins.
Breathing techniques for childbirth are a useful tool to help you and your partner build a positive birth experience! There is a catch, though… to make the techniques work well for you, practise your techniques regularly. The more you practise, the easier and more effectively the breathing techniques will work for you during the birth of your child.
TOP TIP:
Practice the techniques as well as your comfortable breathing pattern together with your (birth) partner. When your birth partner is aware of your comfortable breathing pattern/speed, they can help you by counting you in/out or by keeping eye contact and breathing at your comfortable speed until you have reached your comfortable pattern again.
Download my breathing techniques worksheets today to start your birth prep!
Tina Gibbs 