Breathe your way through birth with Yoga

“Yoga is breath - the two cannot be separated. In yogic terms, you are measured not by how many years you live but by how many breaths you take. Longer and slower breaths will translate into a longer and calmer life. The breath offers a unique way to focus on turning inwards and is key to coping with labour pains. Deeper breathing with lengthened breaths will provide mental focus and increase endorphins levels, the natural ‘feel-good’ pain inhibitors. And the more of those you can have during labour, the better!
During labour, especially if you are in hospital in an unfamiliar environment , surrounded by strangers, you will breathe more rapidly. If you are frightened or in pain, your breathing will be shallow. This quickened breathing can cause the stress hormone adrenaline to be produced and make contractions painful.
By slowing down your breathing you are calming your emotions and having a positive physiological effect on your body. Relaxation and centring will subdue levels of adrenaline and promote the production of oxytocin, which is needed for effective contractions. This will enable you to work with your contractions rather than being overtaken by them. With Yoga, you will be more serene during labour and birth, helping you to control your response to pain and relax between contractions, preserving your energy for when it is really needed.
There is a link between relaxed mothers and relaxed babies, as the stress hormone corticol may be passed between you...”

The article also describes some simple exercises and massage for you and your partner to use during labour. Article reproduced courtesy of the book BREATHE YOUR WAY THROUGH BIRTH WITH YOGA by Julie Llwellyn-Thomas, published by Mitchell Beazley with photography by Ruth Jenkinson.

Available on SPECIAL OFFER to readers of Yoga & Health magazine. Please see page 5 of June 2007 issue for details.