You've probably heard that during labor you should breathe properly. Why is it so important, what is breathing all about and do you need to learn it?
Pulling air into the lungs and exhaling air is one of the body's basic life functions. We usually do it instinctively, unknowingly. But perhaps you have heard the advice that in a nervous state it helps to take 10 deep breaths in and out, because with the exhaled air, a person releases tension from the body and calms down? It is similar duringchildbirth- properbreathinghas a very positive effect on its course and the feelings of the woman giving birth.
Benefits of good breathing during labor
- Provides the baby with oxygen
With the inhalation, you breathe air into your lungs. Oxygen from the air enters the bloodstream and then circulates through the body with the blood, nourishing internal organs and supplyingbaby . On the way back, the blood takes the respiratory waste product (carbon dioxide) from the internal organs and from the baby back to the lungs to be expelled. Breathing too fast often means inhaling air before any remnants of the previous inhalation have been expelled, so used air is still trapped in the lungs, reducing the supply of fresh oxygen to the rest of the body and to the baby. On the other hand, a long, calm exhalation completely cleans the lungs, making room for a new dose of fresh oxygen. This is important during childbirth - each contraction is a break in the supply of oxygen for the baby, and these interruptions must be compensated for.
ImportantApnea is worst in childbirth
During labor, focus only on exhaling - try to keep it long, but not too strenuous. Inhalation is a spontaneous activity. The worst time for a baby during labor is periods of maternal apnea, as the blood vessels constrict and oxygen flow worsens as the uterus contracts. Although oxygen reserve allows for the well-being of the fetus, if it is significantly impaired by maternal apnea, the situation in the uterus may be unfavorable for the child. Therefore, when the pain is severe, try to remember to breathe.
When you breathe air into your lungs, you involuntarily tense all your muscles, while when you breathe out, the tension that arises when you breathe in disappears. If inyou will be holding your breath during your contraction, your muscles will automatically tense. By repeating this pattern with each contraction, you increase the pain. To release tension, exhale consciously with each contraction. It allows you to relax your whole body and helps you cope with pain.
When you consciously exhale the air, the muscles of the whole body, including the cervix, relax, which results in a better opening of the birth canal and faster birth of the baby. More vividly, it can be said that the inhalation is always accompanied by an inward movement, and the exhalation is always accompanied by an outward movement. And if it is so, it is the right exhalation that helps the child to go out into the world. Sometimes women even talk about "exhaling the baby".
Breathing at different stages of labor
Proper breathing is taught in childbirth schools, usually proposing a very specific pattern and prescribing appropriate exercises. But you can learn it even without school, because the important thing is not so much a specific technique as the skill of deep diaphragmatic breathing. Due to the advantages mentioned above, it is precisely this that is so beneficial in the first stage of labor.
The diaphragm is the flat muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity. Diaphragmatic breathing is the process of drawing in air to lower the diaphragm as much as possible (push the belly forwards). In full inhale, lowering the diaphragm inflates the lower, middle and upper parts of the lungs with air. As you exhale, the diaphragm rises and helps remove the used air from your lungs. The most important rules:
You can practice this kind of breathing during pregnancy, especially during predictive contractions. Before you start exercising, sit comfortably, e.g. cross-legged or in a chair, straighten your spine as much as possible (it should be still, preferably supported) and relax your whole body.
When deep breaths no longer help control your contractions, breathe shallowly and a little faster, trying to keep a steady rhythm. Note: Excessive breathing may lead to hyperventilation. It is manifested by dizziness, tingling all over the body and trouble seeing (spots in front of the eyes). In this case, ask your midwife for help (she will probably recommend exhaling into a paper bag or clasped hands).
This is what obstetricians call moments when there is not yetfully dilated ( although it is already close), but the woman in labor needs to push. The so-called panting. It involves taking a deep breath through your nose and then exhaling it through your mouth in batches - just like blowing out a candle. The breathing becomes shallower and faster then. Panting helps you stay strong when your body is very tired, and it also reduces the muscle tension caused by contractions.
It is important to correlate respiration with displacement. At the beginning of a Partego contraction, take one deep breath - take a lot of air and hold it. And when your contraction reaches its peak (your midwife will tell you), take it with all your strength - as long as you are able to hold your breath. You can press several times during one contraction - you only need to inhale and push again. Breathe deeply after contraction to regain strength. The pressure increases the pressure in the abdomen. As the head stumbles, do not push so as not to increase the pressure difference. If the midwife then asks you not to push, breathe quickly and shallowly as if you are panting, or blow out slowly. While pushing, follow the midwife's hints.
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