Breathing techniques

Breathing and relaxation

Breathing and relaxation

Pregnancy
Article
Dec 13, 2017
5 mins

The Pros

  • Offers immediate relief.

  • Decreases tension and offers good pain relief.

  • YOU control it.
  • No side effects to you or your baby.
  • Helpful under many circumstances.
  • Combines well with other forms of pain relief.
  • Drug-free.
  • Worth much, yet costs nothing.

 

The cons

  • Sometimes only takes the edge off the pain.
  • Not helpful to everyone, and takes time and commitment to practice – the more you practice, the better and more accessible it will be in times of stress, such as labour.
  • You may need instruction initially from a childbirth educator. While a single lesson is often all you need, practice is ongoing.
  • The investment is worth it – you develop a life skill to use in difficult situations and keep you healthy at the same time.
  • You can use the techniques at any time and in conjunction with other forms of pain relieving medication.
    Breathing and relaxation – especially helpful
  • When labour starts – to ground yourself.
  • When your contractions become painful.
  • During uncomfortable procedures such as an internal examination, a drip or even an epidural.
  • During first stage labour – imagine your cervix opening easily and quickly with each contraction.
  • When the progress of your labour slows down.
  • During transition – a very challenging time in labour as you move from first stage to second stage and start pushing.
  • When you are pushing – imagine your birth canal as soft and stretchy.
  • During a Caesarean – breathing and relaxation will keep you calm, alert and focused on the birth, and not so much on the surgery.

 

Especially helpful

  • When labour starts – to ground yourself.
  • When your contractions become painful.
  •  During uncomfortable procedures such as an internal examination, a drip or even an epidural.
  • During first stage labour – imagine your cervix opening easily and quickly with each contraction.
  • When the progress of your labour slows down.
  • During transition – a very challenging time in labour as you move from first stage to second stage and start pushing.
  • When you are pushing – imagine your birth canal as soft and stretchy.
  • During a Caesarean – breathing and relaxation will keep you calm, alert and focused on the birth, and not so much on the surgery.

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