Using various breathing techniques during childbirth is an effective way to manage labor pain. These techniques teach a woman how to redirect her thought process away from the pain response and onto a relaxed breathing response. Pregnant women should take the time to practice and study various breathing exercises before going into labor to maximum their effectiveness.
Cleansing Breath
Cleansing breaths are used before and after each contraction. These breaths increase the amount of oxygen going to the baby, but they also provide important psychological cues as well, explains the Sutter Health Network. Taking a cleansing breath at the beginning of a contraction reminds the woman to focus on breathing, relaxing and signaling to the birthing partner that a contraction is beginning. To do a cleansing breath, inhale as much air as possible through the nose and exhale the air slowly through the mouth.
Slow-Paced Breathing
Slow-paced breathing is typically used when contractions become so intense that the woman has difficulty talking or walking through them. This type of breathing is done during the contraction and should be about half the normal respiratory rate. Air should be inhaled slowly through the nose and exhaled slowly through the mouth, with pauses in between each breath. While doing slow-paced breathing, a woman should focus all her attention on the way the air in flowing in and out of her body or use an affirmative phrase or visual focal point.
Modified-Pace Breathing
Some women feel that modified-paced breathing, also referred to as light accelerated breathing, comes more easily than slow-paced breathing as contractions become more intense. This breathing is about twice the respiratory rate of normal breathing, with each breath being very light and shallow. Air is still inhaled through the nose and exhaled through the mouth, just at a much quicker speed. Inhalations will tend to be quiet, but exhalations should be clearly audible.
Variable Breathing
Variable breathing is a variation of modified-paced breathing, and is sometimes referred to as "pant-pant-blow" or the "hee-hee-who" method of breathing, explains the American Pregnancy Association. Although there are many different methods of variable breathing, the distinguishing characteristic is its more pronounced exhalation.
Controlling the Urge to Push
A woman in labor should focus very differently on her breathing when she is controlling the urge to push instead of attempting to manage the pain of contractions, explains Adrienne Liebermann in her book "Easing Labor Pain: The Complete Guide to a More Comfortable and Rewarding Birth." When controlling the urge to push, a woman should focus on blowing out air quickly and rapidly, as if she were blowing out a succession of candles one by one. This type of breathing can ease the urge to push until a doctor or midwife can provide further instructions or assistance.
References
- American Pregnancy Association: Patterned Breathing
- Sutter Health: Labor and Delivery Breathing
- Easing Labor Pain; Adrienne Lieberman; 1992
