Lamaze Breathing Technique To Help With Labor Pains

The Lamaze breathing technique is based on the philosophy of the 1950s, which was developed to help expectant mothers prepare for childbirth and to reduce the pain caused by childbirth.

The name Lamaze comes from the French obstetrician Fernand Lamaze. According to her, childbirth is an ordinary and natural physiological process that a woman should be able to face with confidence and without fear.

The Lamaze breathing technique is known as a psycho-prophylactic method based on a breathing technique that promotes conscious and painless childbirth. The aim of the technique is to teach a woman to control her breathing with relaxation methods based on tactile stimuli such as massage or visual and auditory stimuli. These exercises help lower stress levels and ease the pain caused by contractions.

Lamaze breathing technique can be practiced during pregnancy. The other parent also has an important role in this method. She can help the expectant mother by rubbing this and providing spiritual support. In this way, both parents can be actively involved in the birth of the baby.

Fernand Lamaze developed a series of different exercises that help reduce maternal fears as well as problems during childbirth, make childbirth a simpler process, and help manage pain with a positive stimulus.

Lamaze breathing technique and exercises to relieve pain

Practicing Lamaze breathing technique with simple exercises can start as early as pregnancy. The following exercises aim to make childbirth as painless, natural, healthy and safe as possible.

Clean breathing

In clean breathing, you take a long breath through your nose and slowly blow air out through your mouth. Take advantage of this breathing at the beginning and end of each contraction.

Slow breathing

This is a useful method of relaxation. Try to breathe as naturally as possible, the same way you would breathe while you sleep. Do not take deep breaths to fill your lungs. Try to breathe more superficially than usual by lifting your chest only slightly as you breathe.

Conscious breathing

This is another slow and superficial breathing technique. To practice conscious breathing, you need to be relaxed. Don’t force yourself outside of your comfort zone. Start with clean breathing, then inhale subtly through the nose and slowly exhale through the mouth.

To learn how to breathe properly with this method, you can practice it by placing a burning candle or a piece of paper a few inches from your face. Inhale gently in and out so that the flame of the candle or a piece of paper swings.

Model breathing

This method of breathing is often taught by first saying “hii hii” when inhaling and “huu” when exhaling. The idea of ​​this exercise is to maintain a comfortable rhythm with small, subtle inhalations between each exhalation.

In practice, you inhale for five seconds and out for five seconds, take two short breaths and then take a deeper breath. Keep your shoulders relaxed, focus on sounds and your breathing, not pain.

Although the purpose of this breathing technique is to aim for conscious painless childbirth, it does not mean that no other pain relief could be used. If a woman wants to use an epidural, for example, for pain relief, her doctor should also give it if the situation allows it.

Is painless childbirth possible?

There is a lot of talk today about painless childbirth, but many experts believe that completely painless childbirth is an impossible idea. However, there are a variety of pain management techniques that can be utilized during labor.  

Yoga teacher Nene Molina says: “There is pain during childbirth that does not go away, but you can learn to control it by breathing and relaxing properly. Lamaze breathing technique and yoga during pregnancy help to improve breathing and thus control pain. In other words, the perception of pain decreases. ”

According to Maria Eugenia Rios, a teacher of Lamaze breathing technology, every mother should understand that a woman’s body is created to have children. Rios is dedicated to teaching women to breathe properly and change postures to ease pain during childbirth.

The Lamaze breathing technique teaches a woman to become aware of her body during childbirth. The method helps the breath to flow according to the contractions, which is beneficial for both the mother and the baby.