BREATHING TECHNIQUES FOR LABOUR AND

DELIVERY
Sivagamy Kumaresan
Training Manager-Clinical
SRN,OHN, B.Sc., M.Ed. (Nursing),Trainer (HRDF),
BLS Trainer (IJN).
With Every Breathing Technique…
• Take a cleansing breath at the beginning and end of
the technique.
• Release all muscle tension. Melt into your position.
• Think positive, peaceful, calming, and strengthening
thoughts and/or visualizations.
• Focus on releasing physical and emotional tension
with every out breath.
• If wanted use movement- walk, sway, rock, bounce.
• If wanted make low noises- chant, sing, or moan on
exhale.
 Relaxation and Breathing

• Rhythmic breathing patterns that promote relaxation, and

distract women from labor pain.
• Enhance sense of control.
• Survey of women who gave birth in the US in 2005:
– 49% used breathing techniques
• 77% found these helpful
• 22% did not
• Study of British women using relaxation techniques: 88%
found techniques helpful
 COMPLETE/CLEANSING BREATHING

• The complete breath is used at the beginning and ending of

ALL contractions.
• This breathing maintains oxygen supply to the uterus and the
baby.
• It promotes relaxation.
Practice:
• Breathe in through the nose as deeply as possible.
• Exhale through the mouth an equal amount of air.
• Relax when exhaling and smile at the end to promote further
relaxation.
 CHEST BREATHING (First Stage Labour)

• Maintains oxygen supply to the uterus and the baby.

• Promotes relaxation.
• Resembles a normal breathing pattern.
• Use whenever labour starts.
• Use as long as it feels comfortable.
• Rhythm depends on your comfort.
Practice:
• Take a complete breath. Relax.
• Do slow, rhythmical, quiet breathing.
 SHALLOW BREATHING

• Stops the diaphragm from putting pressure on the contracting

uterus.
• Use whenever chest breathing is no longer effective.
• Use as long as it feels comfortable.
• Rhythm depends on your comfort.
Practice:
• Take a complete breath. Relax.
• Breathe shallower and a little faster. Open your mouth on breaths in
and breathe the word “ha” on breaths out.
• Place the tip of your tongue behind your upper or lower teeth to
reduce mouth dryness.
• Take a complete breath at the end.
• Relax and smile.
 SHALLOW BREATHING WITH A BLOW

• Helps you gain control of the labour by focusing on the rhythmical pattern.
• Use whenever shallow breathing is no longer effective.
• Use as long as it feels comfortable.
• Rhythm depends on your comfort.
Practice:
• Take a complete breath. Relax.
• Do shallow breathing, but insert a short blow for every three to six “ha”
breaths.
• Change the number of pants to blows to suit your comfort.
• Take a complete breath at the end.
• Relax and smile.

• NOTE: You might get the urge to push at this stage. Do NOT push – Blow
out.
 PUSHING

• When the cervix is completely dilated and the baby’s head enters the birth canal, you will
have the urge to push. Controlled breathing helps you to work with the uterus to push the
baby out.
Practice:
• Take a complete breath. Relax.
• Quickly take a deep breath, release a small amount of air, and then bear down, holding
your breath for six seconds (count “one, two, three, four, five, six”).
• Relax your pelvic floor muscles, and push downward and forward through the birth canal
by bearing down with your lungs, diaphragm and abdominal muscles (DO NOT PUSH
WHEN PRACTISING).
• Blow out air, quickly take another breath, and repeat until contraction ends.
• Take a complete breath at the end and relax.

• When not to push

• During transition, before the cervix is completely dilated.
• When you are being moved.
• When the head is being delivered (to avoid pressure on your perineum).