someone remind me how to breathe please!

[shell96]

i am 35wks preg with dc2. Havent done anti-natal classes this time as ds is only 18 months and thought i could remember it all. But... I do remember that concentrating on breathing properly through contractions really helped last time but cant remember was the rule breath in through the nose and out of the mouth or the other way round. Anyone help?

In through nose slowly, out through mouth even more s-l-o-w-l-y at every antenatal class I've been to *(NHS and NCT). Lomger breath out than in. Good luck.

I think its in through the nose and out through the mouth concentrating on the out breath. Tbh though you'll probably find that you just do it naturally without having to practise. I only had the basic nhs antenatal lesson which was 2 hours to cover labour, birth and breastfeeding so not much time to practise breathing and when I was in labour I just found the way that worked best for me. I remember telling myself to blow the pain away while I was breathing out through a contraction and it really helped.

Good luck, I'm sure it will all come back to you and you'll be fine

Get your birth partner to practice doing deep breathing with you. I find with painful BH and general pains that I sometimes forget to breathe slowly and my OH telling me to just makes me stressed, but if he breathes slowly and noticeably I automatically copy his breathing pattern.

Other than the basic relaxation breath (in through the nose, slowly out through the mouth) there are more complicated breathing techniques to concentrate on (but personally I wouldn't bother) and then there's the blowing-a-candle-out-panting to do for a whole contraction of crowning.

Focus on breathing out and "away". I used to breath in through the nose, out through the mouth. Worked great for me.

Also second the idea of your birth partner knowing how you should breath as you can copy them instead of them telling you what to do!

lots of good ideas and thanks for the reminders!

just been refreshing myself on same topic..my dd1 is 16 months so presumed I would remember it all too. I can't remember my own name half the time at the minute so no surprises I had a pani attack about it a few days ago.

Nic eand easy to remember is Relax. In through the nose for RE then out through the mouth for LAX. good message to tell yourself too. Good luck.

I think what is even more important than breathing in through the nose/out through the mouth is where you breath and by that I mean place a hand on your tummy and one on your chest and when you breathe in the hand on your tummy should lift, the hand on your chest should remain still. If this is not the case then you will be hyperventillating which can lead to panic attacks, dizzyness and chest pains.