Tiina enjoying the break between contractions
Breathing well is essential not only for your well being but also for your baby’s. Some make the analogy about giving birth is like running a marathon. And that is not a bad comparison. In both cases you need to know where you are going, what the terrain looks like, have a strategy for how to meet challenges along the way and have to be in good shape to endure the work that is ahead of you. By practicing special techniques for breathing, you can block out pain signals from the uterus, thus experiencing less pain during contractions. Using intervals in between contractions in a positive way, by being as relaxed as possible, you conserve energy. It is invaluable to have strength to cope with the different phases during labor. You will be given different exercises to work with in between meetings. Do practice – it pays off! You will also learn some simple massage techniques.