How do you do the breathing to help cope with contractions?

[Flum]

... thingy. I know you are sposed to breath a certain way. but not sure how.

and are Tens any use at all?

[popmum]

i learnt (from yoga teacher) to breathe in through nose between contractions, then as they start to breath in through nose and out through mouth, pant during peak of contraction (like you are quickly blowing a balloon up), then the reverse on the down side of the contraction. HTH. All deep breaths apart from panting. Really helped me (when i remembered)

[pesme]

i think you do some yogic breathing (ie slowly in through your nose and then out through your mouth) during the build up of the contraction. then when the contraction is at its height you do a sort of "blowing the candles out" thing. again breath in slowly and then blow out in 5 quick bursts. worth practicing with birth partner.

[juuule]

Remember to breath out completely(well as much as you can.:)

[PrettyCandles]

I found Tens very good, particularly in teh first half or so of labour.

Even if you don't manage to do the 'proper' breathing (it helps to get lots of practice before the event itself), the most important thing to remember is keep breathing. The worst thing you can do is to hold your breath or to gasp it all out.

I found that reciting poetry helped me to keep breathing; I marched through the first 12-18hrs of contractions - yes, I take ages - while chanting The Grand Old Duke of York with every contraction. Once I was on the Entonox, and no longer marching, I took a deep breath of gas as the contraction started to build, then tried to breathe normally (still breathing the gas) until it began to fade, then came off the gas, took a sip of water followed by a deep breath of ordinary air. Then I recited poetry to prevent me from hyperventilating until the next contraction. The concentration helps, too.

[Piffle]

panting very fast as the head crowns helped me to control and breathe mine out, without tearing, it was great. Breathing out slowly and with a full nose inhaled breath in, can give you an almost heady sensation and a feeling of control.
I used G+A mask to focus my breathing and it really helped. Was able to ditch the mask for pushing and felt totally focussed and in control.
When are you due Flumster?

[morocco]

I completely panicked but had a great obs who helped me through each and every breath by doing it with me. If it is at all pos, I'd try and get someone who could do that for you cos it was absolutely the best way to do it. (dh was trying but his breathing was a bit panicky too so it was really getting on my nerves)
her breathing exercises were 3 stages during each contraction, starting off as it built up with rounded lips and a kind of 'hoo hoo hoo' noise, then when contraction got to worst, widening kips and 'hee hee hee' (not that I felt like laughing!) and then as it subsided, a slower 'ha ha ha'
it was brill (well it kept my mind occupied)
I managed with just that and tens and both were ace

[SandyR]

Breathe in and out very slowly and deeply - and concentrate on imagining the breath in filling you with energy and the breath out relaxing you. Try to concentrate on your breathing rather than the pain and do this from the very first sign you are on the way. Personally I wouldn't try for anything more complicated than that. Everyone is different but had my first baby with no pain relief and no stitches or anything doing it this way.

[sarahlou1uk]

Deep breathing throughout contractions, in through nose out through mouth then in last stages when babies head is crowing, pant like mad!!! This gives your perineum chance to stretch on its own without you pushing the babies head against it which = no tears (if you're lucky.

[sunita123]

Tens machine - Brilliant
(Whoever invented it deserves a medal!!!)

[CarolinaMoose]

agree with Sandy - you don't need to breathe any particular way. Any kind of calm, measured breathing is fine for coping with contractions, not overly deep as you will be doing it for hours . Try and push down your shoulders, relax your jaw, generally de-tense.

Crowning is a whole different ballgame, but I had an em cs so can't advise on how best to pant.

No idea about Tens machines, sorry.

[LilacBump]

if you're at that stage where you have the urge to push but you're not 10cm just yet, your breathing can stop you from pushing as you hold your breath when you push.

[SueW]

sunita you may not mean that.

I have heard that TENS came about as a result of experiments carried out by the Nazis.