*Yoga, correct breathing and self-hypnosis techniques definitely helped me with labour the second time round. Obviously the fact it was my second and I felt much more confident was a big factor. The thing is though, if you try that stuff, but are open minded that you might need more pain relief and are generally well clued up as to what the options are then it really doesn't do any harm to try.
If you are sceptical, when you next have a pain or are feeling anxious and upset, just notice the difference in doing long, steady out breaths vs shallow, short breaths that we tend to do in these situations. It really does dial down the pain and anxiety*
Again, patronising shit that if I’d have done all that stuff I’d have been less anxious/had less pain or whatever.
I did all the hypnobirthing stuff. I am not sceptical in the slightest that relaxation techniques can help manage labour and improve experience.
What it cannot do is fix problems that mean intervention is needed. No amount of breath control will negate the need for a c-section, forceps, and no amount of yoga will avoid the pain of a placental rupture.
I was calm. I was using my breathing to control anxiety. Baby still nearly died.