Breathing during childbirth

Knowing and applying the right breathing technique during childbirth will help you go through your labour smoothly and efficiently.

A) At the first stage of labour – Uterine contractions

My breath is slow and long. I inhale from the nose, and I exhale from the mouth because it gives me the feeling of discharge and emptying. At the beginning of your breathing training while inhaling you count quickly up to 15, and up to 20, when exhaling. These numbers may be different for each woman, and with time the practice will last longer. A contraction may last as much as 3-4 consecutive breaths.

While practising my breathing, I can visualise images or say some phrases with a positive message (mantra).

I remember that everything that I put in my mind also affects my body.

During the contractions, the uterine muscle fibres are pulled upward so that the cervix opens. During breathing It will help me if I imagine of something that “goes up”. For example:

1. I inhale, and I think of the sun rising. Beautiful pink spreads over the blue sky and passes through the clouds. I exhale and see the sun rise higher and higher in the sky.
2. I inhale, and I imagine that beautiful, colourful and shiny soap bubbles come through my lips. I exhale and see them climb up dancing high up in the sky.

Examples of mantra:

I inhale and tell myself that I am relaxed and calm. I exhale and say that my mind and my body work together as a unit to bring my baby to my world.

I remember to practice daily. It may be the first and last thing I will do after I wake up and before I go to sleep. I’ll do it 2-3 times a day

B) At the pushing stage.

I inhale quickly through the nose and slowly exhale through the nose. At this stage, the uterine cervix is completely opened and will help me if I imagine of something that “opens or falls ”. For example:

1. I drop a pebble in the lake, and concentric smooth, transparent circles appear and expand one after the other.
2. A beautiful, fragrant and velvety rose opens slowly.
3. I see a beautiful waterfall where the water goes down into the river.
4. I breathe and focus my attention on my baby’s descent.

Example of a mantra:

I breathe and tell myself that my baby comes to me and I will soon hold it in my hands.