Breathing
for Pain Relief During Childbirth
- By Samantha Thurlby-Brooks
 It does sound a
little strange to say "remember to breathe"
during labour, but you'll be surprised how often
we hold our breath in day-to-day activities, let
alone while giving birth.
When you're experiencing
any sort of discomfort, the immediate reaction
is to hold your breath. This will cause you far
more discomfort, as well as making you light headed,
unfocused and increase your experience of pain
as well as making you stressed and irritable.
To force your breath
while experiencing any discomfort or intense feeling
will also create muscle tension, even if you're
trying to breathe deeply. The ideal way to breathe
during labour is to focus on your breathing. You
don't need to try to change your breath, just
make sure you are breathing and stay focused on
that. Pay attention to what part of your body
you are breathing in to; your upper chest, your
belly and the sides of your belly. Once you're
focusing on your breath it will naturally and
automatically start to change and become more
relaxed, full and deep. Whenever your attention
goes to something else, bring your focus back
to your breathing.
Essentially what
you're trying to do it to empty your lungs every
time you breathe. When your lungs are empty you
can allow the breath to come back to you in a
relaxed way. Trying to force the breath in will
create tension. Letting all the air out, and then
letting your body bring the air back into your
lungs will bring you a deeper relaxation.
Putting your attention
to your breath throughout labour will help you
through the contractions and help you to rest
in between. You can also practise this breathing
through the second stage of labour, as your baby
is coming down and out, inbetween pushing. The
old fashioned teachings of panting to try and
stop yourself from pushing is now out-dated. Practise
panting now and see how you feel. You're likely
to become very light-headed and feel disorientated;
not something you want if you'd like to get the
most out of your Joyful Birth. By breathing in
a relaxed, deep and focused way, as described
above, you'll reduce your experience of discomfort
and increase your feelings of empowerment and
control.
Practise
focusing on your breathing throughout your pregnancy;
both you and your baby will benefit. You'll find
that you will be more relaxed and calm and once
you go into labour you'll be well practised at
breathing correctly.
You might be interested
in the Joyful Childbirth 3
hour Antenatal Class for Natural Pain Relief |
 You
might also like the Joyful Childbirth Breathe
Meditation CD to help you relax during
your pregnancy, labour and postnatal period (and
ever after!)
Available at the Joyful Childbirth Massage Studio. Find
out more...
|
