Effective breathing during labour and birth will help you to focus, remain in control…

Effective breathing during labour and birth will help you to focus, remain in control and provide your uterus with enough oxygen to contract well. This in turn will help the birthing process. . Up breathing: When you are having contractions, breathe in deeply thtough your nose slowly (count to a comfortable number in your head, perhaps 7 or 8) without holding your breath and then breathe out slowly through your mouth to the same count (or whatever feels comfortable to you) keep repeating these breaths until the contraction ends. If you are using gas & air, you can breathe through the mouth piece at this rate. . At some point you will start to transition into the second stage when your cervix is fully dilated and the head is really low. If the head is low enough, you should start feeling an involuntary urge to push. At this point you need to start down breathing. It will help you focus as transition can make you feel wobbly and out of control as the feeling becomes super intense! . Down breathing is a gentle way of birthing your baby as opposed to being directed, holding your breath, counting to 10 and pushing for your life! Guiding pushing may be necessary however in some situations like if you have an epidural as you won't feel where to push .

Down breathing during the second stage is similar to up breathing but you inhale through the nose quicker. Perhaps to the count of 3. When you breathe out through your mouth, you allow the natural pushing urge to take over. Breathing this way can also help to prevent tearing and burst blood vessels in your eyes!