“Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don’t forget to breathe, very important.” - Mr. Miyagi
Oh, man. There is just way too much information involving breathing techniques. How hard can breathing be?! Trying to understand and remember some of these breathing techniques is probably just as stressful as having the baby itself. No wonder Jessie wanted me to sort through all this mess for her. Smart. Delegate the hard work to the lowly, underpaid peon.
Breathing shouldn’t be something difficult to grasp. Just like Mr. Miyagi says, breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. Simple as ABC. With that in mind, I will try to break things down in the most basic way.
First of all, what is the purpose of breathing techniques during labor? Well, breathing techniques help cope with the pain that you’re experiencing when giving birth. Different techniques during the different stages and phases of labor can help provide focus and put you in control of the situation, as well as making contractions more productive.
However, most experts agree that the main benefit of using breathing techniques is that it ensures the baby is receiving enough oxygen throughout the birthing process and makes sure you don’t become too fatigued.
STAGE ONE:
Early Phase Breathing – During the very first phase of labor, focus on inhaling and exhaling throughout the contractions. Use a cleansing breath before and after each contraction. A cleansing breath is an exaggerated, deep breath done by breathing through the nose and out the mouth. This allows for an increased supply of oxygen and helps to relax you.
Active/Transition Phase Breathing – As contractions begin to intensify, you can begin to take quicker, shallower breaths. As the contraction peaks, you can breathe through your mouth as if you were panting. Between every few breaths, you can try inserting a deeper inhalation and exhalation. When the intensity of the contractions begins to taper off, try resuming the focused breaths through the nose and out the mouth.
You will probably feel like pushing during the last two phases, but resist the urge. If the cervix is not completely dilated, pushing can cause damage or tearing. Kneeling on all fours with the pelvis pointing upwards while panting or blowing through the contractions can help.
STAGE TWO:
The cervix is now completely dilated and you will begin pushing through the contractions. As the urge to push comes and goes throughout a contraction, you should avoid holding your breath. Instead, take a deep breath in and slowly release it as you push. Moaning and grunting can also help.
Oh, man. There is just way too much information involving breathing techniques. How hard can breathing be?! Trying to understand and remember some of these breathing techniques is probably just as stressful as having the baby itself. No wonder Jessie wanted me to sort through all this mess for her. Smart. Delegate the hard work to the lowly, underpaid peon.
Breathing shouldn’t be something difficult to grasp. Just like Mr. Miyagi says, breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. Simple as ABC. With that in mind, I will try to break things down in the most basic way.
First of all, what is the purpose of breathing techniques during labor? Well, breathing techniques help cope with the pain that you’re experiencing when giving birth. Different techniques during the different stages and phases of labor can help provide focus and put you in control of the situation, as well as making contractions more productive.
However, most experts agree that the main benefit of using breathing techniques is that it ensures the baby is receiving enough oxygen throughout the birthing process and makes sure you don’t become too fatigued.
STAGE ONE:
Early Phase Breathing – During the very first phase of labor, focus on inhaling and exhaling throughout the contractions. Use a cleansing breath before and after each contraction. A cleansing breath is an exaggerated, deep breath done by breathing through the nose and out the mouth. This allows for an increased supply of oxygen and helps to relax you.
Active/Transition Phase Breathing – As contractions begin to intensify, you can begin to take quicker, shallower breaths. As the contraction peaks, you can breathe through your mouth as if you were panting. Between every few breaths, you can try inserting a deeper inhalation and exhalation. When the intensity of the contractions begins to taper off, try resuming the focused breaths through the nose and out the mouth.
You will probably feel like pushing during the last two phases, but resist the urge. If the cervix is not completely dilated, pushing can cause damage or tearing. Kneeling on all fours with the pelvis pointing upwards while panting or blowing through the contractions can help.
STAGE TWO:
The cervix is now completely dilated and you will begin pushing through the contractions. As the urge to push comes and goes throughout a contraction, you should avoid holding your breath. Instead, take a deep breath in and slowly release it as you push. Moaning and grunting can also help.
After fully exhaling, take a couple of shallow breaths and then another deep breath as the urge to push comes again. Continue this until the contraction subsides. Try keeping your breaths at an even pace. Begin and end each contraction with a cleansing breath to help you relax.
And there you have it, breathing in a nutshell! Easy, no? Now go out there and get ‘em, champ!
And there you have it, breathing in a nutshell! Easy, no? Now go out there and get ‘em, champ!
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