How to breathe correctly during contractions and childbirth - the technique of proper breathing. Breathing during childbirth

13.06.2019

Proper breathing during childbirth is very important. It helps to simplify the process of the birth of a child and provide him with a sufficient amount of oxygen. The speed of the birth of the baby and the strength of the attempts depend on the correct use of existing techniques.

Contraction training Support
Expectant mother Symptoms of false
don't panic fights

Proper breathing during childbirth makes it possible to relax at the initial stage. At this time, you need to take deep breaths. They can even replace an analgesic for intense, painful contractions.

Any breathing technique during childbirth should be rehearsed in advance. This will greatly facilitate such a responsible event. Learn all kinds of techniques, consult with your doctor to make sure you are doing everything right. Extra training will make you feel more confident, relaxed during childbirth.

Why breathe properly

Even during pregnancy, you need to work out the correct breathing, which will come in handy during childbirth. If you train every day, then by the end of the 9th month, a woman will be able to help her baby be born.

Practicing correct breathing

The ability to breathe properly is necessary to calm down, relax during contractions, and also keep muscle contraction under control. Moreover, you need to breathe properly in order to.

The muscles of the uterus received a sufficient amount of oxygen. In this case, the contractions will not be so painful, since it is hypoxia (lack of oxygen) that causes pain.
Make pushing more efficient. The pressure of the diaphragm on the uterus helps the baby to be born. If a woman simply draws air into her cheeks, the baby will not move.
Protect the child from birth trauma, control attempts.
The child did not suffer from hypoxia.
The baby's head was born softly.

During contractions and childbirth, you need to use different breathing techniques. Do not neglect them if you want the process to be as painless as possible. There are even special courses where expectant mothers are taught the right behavior at the most crucial moment of their lives.

Among several techniques, there is the most popular called "candle". It is used during the entire birth process.

How to act with attempts

Proper breathing during childbirth is very important in the first period, when contractions begin. Usually a woman goes to the hospital when the contractions are not very strong and are manifested in the sipping of the abdomen. After some time, they become permanent, begin to repeat regularly. During this period, do not try to suppress pain in yourself. No need to strain, scream, because this will not bring relief. The pain will not become easier, and the body will get very tired, exhausted. Therefore, during childbirth during labor, focus on inhaling and exhaling.

Many girls who are experiencing their first pregnancy begin to tense up during contractions, and this suppresses the birth process, prevents the cervix from opening quickly and correctly. As a result, doctors have to use medications to induce labor. During childbirth, improper breathing will not lead to anything good. The fetus will not receive the necessary amount of oxygen, which can cause oxygen starvation. And this usually affects the well-being and development of the child. Moreover, maternal misbehavior can cause perineal rupture.

Doctors will help you in this matter

As soon as the cervix has dilated by about 4-5 cm, the active phase begins. Proper breathing during childbirth during this period is very important, because uterine contractions become very strong and can cause severe discomfort to the woman in labor. Contractions last about 20 seconds with a break of up to 5-6 minutes. At this time, the fetal bladder usually breaks, and amniotic fluid is poured out. Due to this, the contractions are intensified, and after the outflow of waters they become longer and stronger. During this time, try the following types of techniques:

"candle";
"big candle"

During contractions and childbirth, the use of the “candle” technique can cause slight dizziness. This happens because the respiratory center of the brain is oversaturated with oxygen, endorphins begin to be produced. Of course, in the event that during regular contractions and childbirth you control your breathing.

Endorphins are “happiness hormones” and therefore reduce the sensation of pain. "Candle" is a frequent superficial sighs. You need to inhale through the nose, and quickly exhale through the mouth, as if you are blowing out a candle that is in front of your lips. Breathing in this way should be constantly until the fight is over. Due to the produced endorphins, this method acts like a natural anesthesia.

During childbirth, there is another technique - the "big candle". This is a forced version of the usual "candle". Also during the fight, you need to alternate inhalations and exhalations, but you need to breathe with effort. The exhalation should be through practically closed lips, and the inhalation should be as if you are trying to inhale, and your nose is blocked. This method is used during childbirth and frequent contractions, if proper breathing using the “candle” technique does not anesthetize enough. If you breathe in this way, then the pulse will even out, and the body will have time to rest before the onset of the next contractions.

How to breathe during childbirth

When the baby's head begins to press hard on the cervix, one of the most difficult moments comes. A woman wants to push, then do it early. During childbirth at this moment, a competent breathing technique will help to survive the dangerous period, to prevent the development of various complications.

As much as you don't want to push, listen to the midwife, do only what she says. During childbirth, there are several correct techniques:

"variable";
"locomotive";
"candle";
"tight".

“Alternate” breathing is carried out as follows: you need to take a deep exit, and then a series of short breaths, exhalations for about 4-5 approaches. For the last time, you should fold your lips with a tube, exhale deeply to the very end. During the full opening of the cervix, when the baby's head passes through the hole, you need to breathe with the "train" technique. The uterus is very excited, so the contractions last about 40-60 seconds. At the same time, the interval between them is very short - sometimes less than one minute. You need to “breathe” the fight, for this a combination of “candle” and “big candle” is used.

If you depict the fight graphically, you get a wave. The fight begins with weak sensations, which begin to grow, reach maximum power, and then fade away. The “engine” accelerates and intensifies simultaneously with the sensations that a woman in labor experiences during a contraction. First you need to apply the technique of "candles". When the fight intensifies, like a locomotive that is picking up speed, you need to intensify your inhalations and exhalations, and then move on to the “big candle” technique. As soon as the fight reaches its peak, it is necessary to accelerate the inhalations and exhalations of the “big candle” as much as possible. When the contraction begins to subside, breathing also calms down. The train pulls up to the station, where it stops to rest.

Support for a loved one

Do not confuse the techniques that you need to breathe during childbirth. If you go astray and do not listen to the doctor, the process will become noticeably more complicated, and will cause even more pain and inconvenience. At the very last stage (except for the placenta extraction stage), when the cervix is fully dilated and the baby is born, the woman must make the maximum amount of physical effort. That is why you need to try to maintain a relaxed and calm state, so as not to simply waste your strength.

If during the period of contractions and childbirth you use the correct breathing technique, this will allow you to use your strength as efficiently as possible. In order not to delay the birth of a child, you need to use special labored breathing. As soon as an attempt comes, you need to inhale as deeply as possible, and then begin to exhale. In this case, the exhalation should be directed to the perineum. You can not push in the head and eyes. Please note that such straining is unlikely to do without consequences, and efficiency will tend to zero. You will only suffer and spend a lot of energy, but this will not help the child at all. Exhale the air as if you are using it to move the child to the exit.

This full deep breath must not be weakened or interrupted. Otherwise, all your efforts will go down the drain. If you push and feel that there is not enough air, you need to gently exhale it to the rest, then re-gain the maximum amount with a deep breath and exhale. If during childbirth the exhalation will correspond to the technique of correct breathing, then it will begin to put pressure on the uterus and diaphragm.

The duration of one push is about a minute. During this time, you need to make three straining exhalations. At this moment, the “candle” breath is just required. You inhale deeply and then exhale slowly. If during childbirth your behavior and breathing is correct, attempts will be as effective as possible. As soon as the head is shown, it is necessary to breathe very slowly, like a dog, and in no case rush things.

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This is full abdominal breathing or belly breathing. So says yoga - an ancient practice of energy management. Such breathing gives a feeling of lightness and freedom. It is time to try to put into practice the most ancient theory and feel the impact and result of correct breathing. How does such a respiratory "work"? Who else is it useful for? What sensations does a woman in labor experience when she controls her breathing? Read the answers to these and some other questions below.

Breath promotes

Or diaphragmatic breathing provides blood flow to the placenta, fetus and uterus, thereby improving the flow of nutrients and oxygen to them. The motor function of the intestine is normalized, as blood supply improves here. This moment is very important, because many expectant mothers suffer from the wrong chair. Breathing exercises relieve muscle tension, free the lungs from sputum. Gymnastics can be useful not only during pregnancy or childbirth, but also in stressful situations. Proper breathing relaxes the body during childbirth, thereby reducing pain and tension during contractions.

abdominal breathing

At first glance, mastering proper breathing during childbirth seems complicated. But even if it doesn't work at first, don't give up. So the first technique is abdominal breathing or belly breathing. Why is it needed? Diaphragmatic breathing improves blood circulation and relaxes the muscular frame. If the exercise is performed correctly, then warmth is felt inside the abdomen, the activity of the fetus increases. Mom can clearly feel the baby moving. This exercise is recommended for the threat of miscarriage. It is recommended to breathe like this in the first stage of labor with prolonged, strong and frequent contractions.

Execution technique

abdominal proper breathing during childbirth performed in a supine or semi-sitting position. Performance:

1. Put your hand on your stomach, while inhaling, gradually filling it with air. At the same time, move your hand away from you (do this with your abdominal muscles).

2. As you exhale, bring the abdominal wall closer to the spine (as much as possible). The abdomen is drawn in.

3. Breathe calmly, choose the pace and depth that suits you.

4. The chest should remain motionless, but at the same time it should not be tense.

5. Only the abdominal muscles and diaphragm work.

6. The duration of the exercise is 5-10 minutes in the morning and evening.

Vibrational Breathing

1. Starting position - sitting, the body is slightly tilted forward, hands rest on the knees.

2. As you exhale, chant the mantra “o-m-m-m” with your mouth closed.

2. The sound should be pronounced as long as possible until the air completely leaves the lungs.

3. It is worth concentrating not on the sound in the sinuses, but on the chest sound.

4. To better concentrate, you can swing back and forth.

5. The time of meditation is not limited, everything will depend on individual well-being and desires.

Doggy breath

Doggy breathing is breathing through the mouth. Why is it needed? Breathing relaxes the body, it is recommended for strong contractions and attempts, it has the best analgesic effect. Performance:

1. Doggy breathing refers to intense mouth breathing. You can also breathe through your nose, only your mouth should be open. The rhythm of breathing is arbitrary.

2. Starting position - lying down.

3. Due to hyperventilation, oxygen saturation occurs, weakness, drowsiness, dizziness appear. The body relaxes.

4. Training should start from the 20th week of pregnancy.

5. no more than 1 minute is performed, then a 2-minute break. Breathe "like a dog" every day 3-5 times a day.

At the beginning of pregnancy, as a rule, women are so absorbed in carrying a baby that they don’t even think about how the birth will go. But the closer the long-awaited day is, the more questions arise: how to behave during childbirth, how to ease contractions and how to breathe correctly?

The question of proper breathing during childbirth does not arise by chance, because it is it that helps a woman regain her strength and contributes to a faster and easier flow of the birth process.

Proper breathing during childbirth is the key to a quick delivery

Many experts argue that it is proper breathing during contractions and attempts that helps a woman to facilitate the birth process and somewhat speed up its course. Can really proper breathing technique ease the pain of childbirth? Yes, it really is.

With proper breathing, a woman can calm down and relax, in addition, proper breathing techniques are designed in such a way that the diaphragm does not interfere with childbirth, but, on the contrary, helps.

What explains the fact that proper breathing during childbirth can help faster delivery? Everything is quite simple: a woman who focuses on proper breathing during childbirth pays less attention to pain, cervical dilatation occurs faster, and, therefore, the baby is born earlier.

Oxygen plays an important role for the muscles of the woman in labor, its sufficient supply helps the muscles contract better, and the baby simply needs a large amount of oxygen, and proper breathing during childbirth is aimed specifically at saturating the body of the woman in labor with oxygen.

Despite the fact that we were all born with an unconditioned breathing reflex, it is important for a pregnant woman to learn precisely certain techniques. A woman in the process of childbirth must breathe in a special way, this breathing cannot be compared with the usual breathing of a person. That is why, for the process of delivery, you need to prepare in advance and master the techniques of proper breathing, which will help facilitate and speed up childbirth.

It is also worth noting that training should take several months, only in this case, you will be able to work out your skills to the maximum, and you will know exactly how to breathe during a particular period of childbirth. By the way, breathing has its own distinctive features depending on. But what unites all the techniques is that a pregnant woman must learn to control inhalation and exhalation.

Correct breathing technique during childbirth: how to breathe in different periods

So, as mentioned above, for each period of the birth process, there is a certain technique for proper breathing during childbirth that can help a woman in hard work - the birth of a baby into the world. Let's take a closer look at each period and find out the features of breathing during marriage and attempts.

Proper breathing during contractions

As a rule, a woman goes to the hospital at the first contractions, which either appear or disappear, they do not bring much pain and are expressed only in sipping the abdomen. Later, contractions become constant and repeat at regular intervals.

With the onset of regular contractions, the woman in labor should clearly remember what not to do during this period, namely: do not try to suppress pain, do not pinch, do not strain and do not scream. All these actions will not bring relief, but, on the contrary, will only hinder you, the body will get tired and exhausted ahead of time, and the pain will not recede anyway.

Many women who give birth for the first time tense up very much during each contraction, thereby suppressing the birth process, excessive tension prevents the correct and rapid opening of the cervix. In this case, doctors are forced to anesthetize contractions and, using medications. The tightness of a woman also does not lead to anything good: the child receives an insufficient amount of oxygen, which can lead to, as well as affect the condition of the baby and its development after childbirth.

According to pediatricians, it is the babies who had to endure hypoxia during childbirth that are more difficult to adapt and more prone to various diseases. Therefore, try to relax as much as possible and apply the breathing techniques that will be described below.

At the start of the fight you must adhere to the following technique: inhale through the nose for four counts, and exhale through the mouth for six counts. Remember that the inhalation should be slightly shorter than the exhalation. Exhaling through your mouth, purse your lips. This way of breathing will allow you to relax your muscles as much as possible, calm down and fill the body with oxygen, because it is a full exhalation that allows you to saturate the blood and body of mother and baby with the necessary amount of oxygen.

If you use this technique, then you will have to constantly count, and, therefore, you simply will not have time to think about pain, the main thing is to inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

When contractions become more intense and frequent, it is necessary to accelerate breathing, for this it is recommended to use the following technique. This type of breathing is also called "dog-like breathing", it may seem funny at first glance, but not in the process of contractions. You need to breathe shallowly, with your mouth open, the way dogs breathe in hot weather.

Drop all prejudices and do not be afraid to look ridiculous, neither obstetricians nor doctors will be surprised, and your main task during the period of contractions is to make your life as easy as possible and help the child be born sooner. Therefore, open your mouth, stick out your tongue slightly and start breathing often.

During cervical dilatation uterus, you can use another breathing technique, which is called the "train". The principle of this technique is quite simple: with the onset of a contraction, start breathing quickly, shallowly, inhale through your nose, and then quickly exhale through your mouth, lips folded into a tube. As soon as the intensity of the contraction subsides and the pain becomes less noticeable, try to calm your breathing. This method helps to “breathe” the most acute pain during contractions.

How to behave during attempts

When a woman in labor begins to push, she should completely trust the obstetrician, it is he who will tell you how to behave correctly so that the birth of the baby goes as quickly as possible.

Listen to the advice of an obstetrician-gynecologist, he will explain how to breathe, how to push, when to do it and when to rest. The average duration of an attempt is about one minute. It is necessary to take the deepest possible breath and push on the exhale, trying to exert pressure on the uterus with the entire volume of air.

Make sure everyone tension didn't go away, otherwise you will not avoid rupture of blood vessels on the face and in the eyes. All your efforts should be focused on the birth of the baby. If it so happened that you did not get the right amount of air, do not worry, exhale quickly and take a new breath as quickly as possible, and then push again.

"Breathing on a candle" is considered the most effective during an attempt. To master this technique, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth as if you were blowing out a candle, this technique may be accompanied by chanting the vowels.

As soon as the baby's head is born, you need to try to breathe freely or use the "dog-like" breathing technique.

If a woman in labor breathes correctly during attempts, then the birth of a baby occurs quite quickly: for three or four attempts, which bring relief, but if the obstetrician sees that the woman no longer has the strength, then she is given the opportunity to rest.

What else is important to know about proper breathing techniques?

Practice proper breathing as often as possible in order to prepare as much as possible for the time of childbirth. At first you may have hyperventilation, the symptoms of which are dizziness, darkening in the eyes, pre-fainting. Breathing in and holding your breath will help get rid of these symptoms, or breathe in your palms, after connecting them.

Often when breathing with an open mouth occurs dry mouth, you can get rid of this symptom if you touch the tip of your tongue to the sky or by rinsing your mouth with water.

Arbitrary breathing during childbirth only exacerbates and lengthens the birth process. Control your every breath, do not forget to count at the same time, do not be distracted by extraneous matters and do not revel in the feeling of pain, the main thing to remember is that the child has a much harder time during childbirth than his mother, so talk to the baby. It is good if someone close to you will be next to you during the fights, a person who will help you relax, give you a massage and make sure that you do not forget about proper breathing.

You need to start training proper breathing as early as possible so that this process works out to automatism, and a model of behavior during childbirth is developed in the brain. The main thing is to relax during childbirth, turn off the panic and start breathing properly!

In conclusion, I would like to note once again that labor activity is a rather complicated process that requires preparation and responsibility. Tune in to childbirth psychologically - this is very important, think over various situations and your behavior in different periods of childbirth. Remember that the doctor and obstetrician are your assistants, so listen carefully to their advice and follow all recommendations.

Breathing techniques in childbirth, if you can master them in advance, will greatly help you relax and concentrate on the process. Good luck and easy delivery to you!

Answers

We will talk about the various breathing techniques used in childbirth. The ability to breathe properly at various stages of labor activity can greatly help the expectant mother.

For example, deep breathing in the initial stages of childbirth allows you to calm down, relax as much as possible and save energy. The need to inhale and exhale at a certain rate makes you distract from possible discomfort during the fight. At the same time, the uterus receives an influx of oxygen-rich blood, which will not be slow to affect both its work and the well-being of the baby. Later, when contractions gradually become painful, deep breathing is replaced by various methods of frequent shallow breathing, acting as a natural analgesic. Calm, measured breathing in the interval between contractions at this stage allows you to fully relax and gain strength. In the second stage of labor, when the baby begins to descend through the birth canal, proper breathing will help the woman in labor not to push ahead of time. Yes, and the most important moment - the birth of a child - is also associated with breathing: the effectiveness of an attempt by 70% depends on the air correctly collected and released from the lungs on time.

First stage of labor

The initial phase of the first stage of labor is called latent, it is characterized by rare short painless contractions. Such contractions last from 5 to 15 seconds, and the intervals between them take from 20 minutes. During the latent phase, the cervix opens slowly. It will take several hours before the contractions begin to noticeably gain strength. In the meantime, labor activity does not cause significant discomfort to the expectant mother, it is very important to rest, gain strength and not worry. To do this, we will try to monitor our breathing,

When the contraction begins, take a calm deep breath through your nose. Try to make the breath as long as possible. In this case, it should feel like all the lungs are gradually filled with air. Then slowly, without effort, exhale the air through your mouth. One inhalation and exhalation should be enough for a contraction. In this act of breathing, not only the pectoral muscles are involved, but also the abdominal muscles. This technique is called "abdominal breathing." It is more typical for men - in a woman, when inhaling and exhaling, the intercostal muscles are mainly involved. The abdominal type of breathing is used in opera singing and yoga classes. Such breathing will not only help you relax, but will also help improve gas exchange in the lungs and blood flow. In addition, with the participation of the abdominal muscles in the act of breathing, there is a slight change in pressure in the abdominal cavity, which also contributes to the activation of the uterus.

During deep breathing, you can use the account. For example, during a contraction lasting 10 seconds, it is convenient to inhale, counting to yourself from 1 to 3, and exhale from 1 to 7. Thus, one inhalation and exhalation is enough for the entire fight. It is easier for the expectant mother to navigate the process of childbirth, without going up to the clock each time, and time passes faster. With a contraction lasting about 15 seconds, you can inhale, counting from 1 to 5, and exhale from 1 to 10, etc. The breathing technique itself remains the same, but there is no need to monitor the participation of the abdominal muscles in inhalation and exhalation (with such a long breath, this happens by itself!). Counting while breathing is a psychological technique that allows a woman to distract herself from her inner feelings and fears.

The active phase of the first stage of labor begins after the cervix has opened 4-5 cm. Contractions at this stage last at least 20 seconds, and the interval between them is reduced to 5-6 minutes. The contractions of the uterus become stronger and can significantly disturb the woman in labor. Around the same time, amniotic fluid may normally flow out. The fetal bladder, filled with liquid, is a kind of shock absorber for uterine contractions. Its rupture allows the uterus to increase the strength of the contractions more intensively, therefore, after the outflow of the waters, the contractions will be stronger and longer, and the interval between them will become significantly reduced. In order to cope with the growing discomfort during contractions, try using the following types of breathing:

"Candle" - frequent shallow breathing, in which inhalation is made through the nose, exhalation through the mouth. Try very quickly, as if not completely, to inhale the air through your nose and immediately exhale it through your mouth, as if blowing out a candle located right in front of your lips. Inhalations and exhalations should replace each other continuously until the fight is over. After 20 seconds of this breathing, you will feel slightly dizzy. At this moment, due to the oversaturation of the respiratory center of the brain with oxygen, a significant release of endorphins occurs in the body. Endorphins, better known to the reader as “hormones of happiness,” have one remarkable property: they increase the threshold of pain sensitivity, in other words, they reduce the sensation of pain. Thus, rapid shallow breathing during a contraction works as a "natural analgesic".

"Big Candle" , in fact, is a forced version of the previous type of breathing. You continue to alternate between short, shallow breaths through your nose and exhalations through your mouth throughout the fight. But now you should breathe with some effort. Inhalation is made as if you are trying to "breathe" a stuffy nose, exhalation - through almost closed lips. If at this moment you look in the mirror, you will notice that the wings of the nose and cheeks are involved in the act of breathing. This method is used when ordinary breathing with a “candle” becomes insufficient for pain relief.

"Engine" - breathing, which is very helpful at the moment of full opening of the cervix. At this time, the baby's head passes through the opening in the cervix. The uterus is in an excited state, which is manifested by frequent, strong and long (from 40 to 60 seconds) contractions, alternating with very short - sometimes less than 1 minute - intervals. The essence of such breathing is to “breathe” the fight. For this, a combination of the two previous types of breathing is used. Feelings during a fight can be graphically depicted as a wave: any fight begins with minimal sensations, then they gradually increase, reach their peak and also smoothly fade away. Breathing like a “train” intensifies and accelerates according to the sensations experienced by the expectant mother during the contraction. First, it is candle breathing. As the contraction intensifies, like a steam locomotive picking up its pace, breathing intensifies, as in a “big candle”. When the strength of the contraction reaches its peak, breathing with a "big candle" is accelerated as much as possible. Then, when the contraction subsides, the breath gradually calms down - the "engine" drives up to the station, where it is waiting for rest.

When using any type of rapid shallow breathing at the end of the contraction, take a deep breath through the nose and exhale through the mouth. This allows you to relax, even out the pulse and rest before the next fight.

Second stage of labor

After the cervix is fully dilated, the baby begins to move through the birth canal under the influence of uterine contractions. The resulting stretching of the soft tissues of the small pelvis, including the walls of the rectum, makes the expectant mother want to push. A similar sensation occurs when you need to empty the intestines. While pushing, the woman in labor strains the abdominal muscles, helping the baby to “push through” to the exit. However, at the beginning of the second period, it is still too early to push - on the contrary, at this stage it is necessary to relax in order to allow the baby to descend as low as possible through the birth canal. In addition, in some women, attempts begin when the cervix has not yet fully opened. In this case, if you start to actively push and move the head through the birth canal, the cervix will rupture. How to restrain the attempt?

Here again a special breathing technique will help us. In order not to push ahead of time, they use breathing. When the fight begins and there is a desire to push, you need to open your mouth and breathe quickly and shallowly. In this type of breathing, both inhalation and exhalation are performed through the mouth. It really resembles the breath of a dog after a fast run. By breathing in this way, you force the diaphragm to constantly move up and down, which makes the attempt impossible (tension of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall).

When it finally comes time to push, it is very important to take a proper breath before the contraction. The effectiveness of the fight directly depends on how you use your breathing at this moment. When the fight begins, you need to take a full chest of air with your mouth - as if you are going to dive. Then you should hold your breath and push, straining the abdominal muscles. Exhalation with an open mouth at the end of the attempt should be smooth - then the walls of the birth canal will gradually relax, allowing the baby to "strengthen in their positions." For a fight, you must take in air three times, push, and then exhale. It can be said that a correctly made inhalation and exhalation accelerate | your meeting with the child!

Let's summarize:

As long as the contractions do not cause discomfort, it is better to use the “abdominal; type of breathing.
- For pain relief, various options for frequent shallow breathing help well: “candle”, “big candle” and “train”.
- In order not to start pushing earlier! time, during the fight you need to breathe "dog".
-In order for the attempt to be as effective as possible, it is important to learn how to correctly - as when diving - inhale air, hold your breath for the duration of the attempt, and exhale smoothly at the end of the fight.

In conclusion, I will say that during childbirth, knowing how to breathe correctly helped me a lot. I gave birth to myself, a large fetus, without breaks and cuts, which is what I wish you.

Proper breathing during childbirth is a fundamental part of the entire process of childbirth.

Women who master the correct breathing techniques in childbirth will be able to greatly simplify their childbirth and anesthetize them as naturally as possible.

In some texts, there are up to 12 different types of breathing during childbirth!

But during the birth itself, no one can apply such a number of types of breathing, and because they cannot remember everything, and because they do not know where and at what moment to apply this type of breathing.

Attention switches to something completely different and it is impossible to control breathing during childbirth, remembering where, what technique and at what moment to apply.

It is better to learn the minimum number of breathing techniques that are practically more useful.

It will be enough for a woman to master the correct breathing during childbirth in two versions: the first is the breathing of contractions, the second is the breathing of attempts.

Breathing during childbirth has two main functions:

First: breathing must fulfill its main function - gas exchange, fill tissues with oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body, and breathing should also be comfortable.

During the contraction, a natural hypoxic state occurs in the child, because during the contraction the blood circulation between the uterus and the placenta deteriorates, at this moment the child's heartbeat physiologically increases to 160-180 beats per minute.

And especially at this moment, the child needs oxygenated blood. With proper breathing technique, mom can satisfy this natural need for oxygen.

Second: Another important purpose of breathing is to provide relaxation to the woman in labor. During the contraction, the uterus tenses up, while the cervix relaxes in order to better open up.

I must say that the cervix itself, before opening, is presented in the form of a dense circular muscle (you can imagine a clenched fist), four centimeters high, and three centimeters in diameter.

As a result of her relaxation, she opens her gap from two millimeters to ten centimeters and ceases to be visible as a separate organ and simply stretches to complete absence. We can not influence the contractions of the uterus.

Interesting! But we can influence the opening of the cervix by relaxing the same circular muscles of our body as the cervix, these are the circular muscles of the eyes, mouth (lips) and anal sphincter (anus).

We can instruct these muscles to relax. Through the relaxation of these circular muscles, we reflexively relax the cervix, due to which the opening is more efficient and faster.

This is a proven fact, therefore, in preparation for childbirth courses, they teach to relax all muscles during contractions, and not to pinch, because deep breathing, combined with relaxation of all muscles during contractions, gives natural pain relief, effective cervical dilatation and the opportunity to enjoy childbirth.

But to make such a technique is not as easy as it seems, because when the uterus itself contracts during a contraction, all the other muscles of the body behind it tend to tension, but such behavior during a contraction is fundamentally wrong.

In order for the magic trick to turn out already at the exam (during childbirth), you need to practice in advance, then the body will remember the sequence of actions and during childbirth there will be no need to remember anything about breathing and relaxation.

The training is simple: lie down, tense the muscles of the arms and legs very strongly, while trying to keep the muscles of the pelvic floor and face completely relaxed.

In this case, it is necessary to breathe deeply and correctly during childbirth, below I will explain how. Try it. Well, how did it work? We need to achieve a stable positive result! Train at any time, as soon as you remember this exercise.

It is very simple and uncomplicated: a slow deep breath through the nose for four counts, and an even slower exhalation through the mouth for six counts.

Please note that when exhaling through the mouth, the lips should be as relaxed as possible!

You can exhale with a "horse" when the lips fluctuate from the exhaled air. A wonderful method of breathing with a “horse” helps to further relax both the mouth and the neck.

Remember, the fight presses you, and you press it with free deep breathing and maximum relaxation of all muscles, especially the face! Well, swaying the hips in an upright position - something in general! So you can live through any fight (live is the key word) and enjoy childbirth!

Important! Breathing in which the lips gather into a tube on exhalation is absolutely wrong in childbirth! Abdominal breathing should not be used during childbirth. It is absolutely not physiological for a woman in labor!

In the second phase of childbirth - in the straining period, breathing changes on its own, but if you don’t know about it in advance, you can easily spoil your efforts with the wrong approach.

If we recall the physiology of the straining period, then this is the moment when, at the next contraction, a woman feels pressure on the rectum, this feeling is one to one similar to the desire to go to the toilet for the most part.

This means that the baby's head has passed the cervix and descended into the vagina, there is a desire to push, and the lower the baby's head descends, the stronger this feeling. There is a physiological reflex of expulsion of the fetus.

During it, it is irresistibly drawn to push, but if the child’s head has not gone down low enough, then you need to restrain yourself and not push so that the tissues have time to adapt to the volume of the born head and not tear.

It is very difficult to restrain this reflex if you do not know how to breathe correctly during childbirth, especially during this period. Therefore, when a doctor or midwife says to be patient and not to push, you can contain all the force of the attempt with the help of breathing "dog".

Interesting! Doggy breathing is small, frequent inhalations-exhalations with the stomach with an open mouth, until the moment when they are allowed to push.

And when they give the go-ahead to push, in order to avoid small pinpoint hemorrhages in the eyes, cheeks and neck, you need to properly direct the air while holding your breath!

Until now, some old-school doctors and midwives force you to push with your mouth closed and your chin pressed to your chest, which creates very strong tension in the face and blood vessels of the head. We won't do that!

When asked to push, we take air quickly, a lot, with an open mouth. We hold our breath, blocking the exit of air at the level of the vocal cords. Without closing your mouth!

If you close your mouth, then a very strong pressure will be created in the upper part of the head, which we want to avoid.

We took the air and, as it were, swallowed it down, while we did not close our mouth. Then the lower lobes of the lungs open, put pressure on the diaphragm, the diaphragm goes down, the abdominal wall moves forward. Thus, we launch the entire mechanism of muscular assistance to the uterus on attempts.

The diaphragm and abdominals are very powerful and useful helpers for the uterus in moving the baby through the birth canal. And, holding the air with an open mouth, blocking the exhalation at the level of the vocal cords, we direct all the force of the effort down, and there is no tension in the face.

Having mastered such a simple breathing technique and practicing it before childbirth, you will save yourself not only from bursting blood vessels, but also from complications associated with visual impairment and deterioration after childbirth.

Interesting! Our ancestors gave birth like this: when a woman was pushing, a raw branch cut from a tree was inserted across her mouth. Necessarily raw, so as not to break the teeth, and with the help of this branch all the problems of labored breathing were solved.

About exhale!

Exhale after an attempt with your mouth slowly! In order for the child not to pull back sharply, the exhalation should be smooth, and the child is fixed at the level where he advanced.

With the next push, the child will not need to start from the previous point. And with each push, he will move forward little by little. That's all there is to breathing in childbirth. Summarize.

In short, during contractions, deep slow breathing with relaxed muscles, while trying to breathe like a dog, turning into holding a deep breath at the level of the vocal cords with an open mouth and expelling the child with this air.

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