The Birth Collective

Pain Relief in Labour⁣
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>There are many options available⁣
>It’s okay to change your mind and plan in the moment - your birth plan is flexible⁣
>Not all pain relief is available in every birthing location⁣
>Do your research- Learn about your options beforehand⁣
>Talk to your birth partner about how you like to be comforted in times of pain or worry⁣
>Moving throughout labour has been shown to help with progression of labour and pain relief so try lots of different positions to find what works best for you (some examples include rocking, kneeling or walking around)⁣
>Sensations can feel stronger if fatigued, not eaten for a while, dehydrated, cold or in an unfamiliar, bright, disturbed environment⁣
>The position of your baby can impact how contractions feel. For example ‘back to back’ positions may cause contractions to feel powerful in the lower back. Moving into positions that feel good for you can help⁣
>Research has shown that having Doula support in labour can help reduce perceived pain in labour⁣
>Childbirth education that includes complementary therapies has been shown to reduce epidural use in labour⁣
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What are your top tips for pain relief during birth? Share your thoughts below ⬇️ ⁣
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With each deep breath, I feel better and better

One of the key components of Hypnobirthing is controlled breathing. We often hear a big focus on breathing when it comes to birth from our friends to our midwives.

Why is breathing so important?

Breathing helps you to relax. Slow deep breaths stimulate the parasympathetic response in our body which tells our heart rate and blood pressure to decrease and also signals the release of endorphins - which are essentially our natural pain relief (otherwise known as happy hormones).

Slow deep relaxing breaths reduce stress hormones and they also importantly encourage blood to flow to the uterus during labour. This means that the muscles of the uterus are getting the oxygen then need during contractions or surges - which may help labour progress well and also feel more comfortable.

There are so many breathing techniques out there - however the key thing is to find what works for you and relaxes you. Here are some top tips for getting your breathing techniques in gear for the home run:-

1. If you forget everything else remember to make the exhale longer than the inhale
2. Try lots of different breathing techniques - however you choose to do this whether it is through a course, reading techniques in a book or online - try a few out and see what feels best for you
3. Once you’ve found your techniques, practise them - ensuring that you’re well versed in them will enable you to use them when you need to and with ease.

If you’d like to learn more, we include both Hypnobirthing and Yoga breathing techniques as part of our Complete Birth Preparation course or alternatively in the individual Hypnobirthing and Prenatal Yoga courses, which you can purchase on our website - link in bio 😊

Did you/do you plan to use breathing techniques during birth? What did/have you done to prepare?