Doing wrong?! Not breathing out hypnobirthing

[Rasplolly]

Hello
I am 32 weeks pregnant with my first and attempting hypnobirthing. I’ve got the Maggie Howell book and cd (natalhypnotherapy) and I like her stance (and voice!)

So far (unless I’ve missed something) it seems a lot is about listening to the cds - which I’m doing on a regular basis. Practicing breathing seems to be just relaxing with breathing during contractions (taking big breaths etc) - but not a specific technique like “breathe in for x and out for y” or “in through nose and out through mouth” or “up breath vs down breath” that I’ve seen other packages use.

Am I practicing this all wrong?

My first concern is: Should I be practicing breathing a certain way too? Or will listening to the cds and just relaxing be enough?

My second concern is: I don’t like breathing out through my mouth - if I breathe in and out of my nose instead am I scuppered?!

thanks for the help!

I can’t help with the practising hypnobirthing but as I didn’t finish the course I took but I used breathing to help through my labour and ended up just using breathing, a tens machine and a birth pool to manage. I found I timed breathing in with the contraction and it felt more natural to breathe out through my mouth than it does in say, a yoga class or something. I think you’ll find a way that works for you at the time, even if you practice something in advance.

Thanks that’s really helpful! Does anyone else have any experiences??

I used the techniques in positive birth company online package which was breathing in for 4 seconds and out for 8 seconds. In through nose and out through mouth. I totally get what you mean about breathing out through your nose not feeling natural or comfortable but it feels natural when having contractions as it gives more of a 'release' which I guess helps with the pain.

I also used the 'down breathing' technique for the pushing stage where you take a breath in through your nose and blow it out through your mouth but aim your breath downwards towards your belly. This is as you bare down to push which your body will tell you to do (if you haven't had an epidural).

thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk/parenting-blog/2021/1/12/up-and-down-breathing-techniques

Above is what I used. The Maggie howells one is good to listen to for info and relaxation- often the info on these helps to lessen the fear surrounding birth and help you feel more empowered. I listened to that with my first but my second is the one in the link. I definitely preferred those techniques for breathing but it was a much easier labour overall.

Both of mine were with tens, breathing and gas and air. First was 36 hours of labour, 2nd was 2.5 hours! Wishing you all the best x

Thank you that is really helpful! I will start practicing the breathing links you mention - thank you

I did a course and they got us to take a low slow breath for 4. And breath it down into tummy and then long exhale for 8

Long slow not low slow

I used the Maggie Howell cd in both pregnancies, I remember it just helped me focus on my breathing rather than give me a specific breathing technique and I found by just focusing on my breaths it helped keep me calm in my first labour which was on MLU. My second was unfortunately induced and breathing didn't help, but it was a positive first experience

Thank you it’s so reassuring to hear your experiences

I did HB with my last 2. Honestly, breathing out through mouth works so much better than nose. I don’t know why!

Also, I used to practice my breathing when going for a poo. Apparently used similar muscles.

Thanks @mintbiscuit - did you practice “up”/stage 1 breathing during pregnancy at all? Or just “down”/stage 2 pushing during the toilet (which is a great idea btw!!)

Nursemumma92, retired anaesthetist here - epidurals don’t remove the urge to push, or prevent you being able to push.

They contain a mix of local anaesthetic and opiate, designed to produce minimum motor block with maximum pain block.
You can have an ambulatory epidural, which leaves you free to move about.
You are perhaps thinking of the 1980s and 1990s, when more concentrated solutions of bupivacaine as sole agent were in use.

@Babdoc I am just going by the experiences of many women I work with on delivery suite. I work across anaesthetics, scrub and recovery for obstetrics and when there are no cases in theatre, I work alongside the midwives supporting them. It is merely an observation that many many of these women do not have the urge to push.

I wasn't trying to slate epidurals at all- they are wonderful.

Both!

Honestly, having had an epidural (after a long induction) with my first, using hypnobirthing for my next 2 births made SUCH a difference. Yes it hurt but made me feel like I was in control.

Worth noting I had homebirths for the last 2 so an epidural wasn’t even an option. I think the fact I was at home and more comfortable helped massively too. Home births aren’t for everyone though!

I feel all the practice in the world goes out the window when the time comes. I read a few things on hypnobirthing and thought il give it a shot. It was incredible but I still don't know if I was doing it right lol. I figured my contractions were one minute long. I breathed in for 4 and out for 6, I knew I had to do that 6 times and the contraction would be over. It kept my mind occupied counting down each sequence and made my birth so much easier. Between that and the wave comb I was able to have a drug free birth and really enjoyed it

I listened to hb podcasts religiously before birth but by the time came I went into labour too quickly for it to be useful. However I think the deep sense of empowerment I had about my birth (despite a variety of dramas) came from listening to them in advance.