finding hypnobirthing breathing techniques difficult with asthma

[UrsulaSings]

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of this and how to overcome it? I find the fact they say to breathe out longer than you breathe in (e.g breathe in for 4 and out for 6) absolutely impossible and it just makes me feel really breathless and I take a bigger breath to compensate and I dont feel relaxed at all! I've done meditation before and 'square' breathing absolutely fine, so it just seems as if it's the breathing out longer than you breath in that's the problem.

How do I overcome this? Should I just ignore this bit? Only problem is this way of breathing seems to be quite an integral part!

Thanks.

I don't have asthma, but I didn't massively like the breathing technique they did, which sounds the same as the one you mention. I found I couldn't do it comfortably. In labour I found myself doing something different where I'd just slowly count whilst breathing slowly in and out between each number. The aim, I think, is to get plenty of air in and out, keep you remembering to breathe and not end up hyperventilating etc, and to make sure you properly exhale. I ended up in a different pattern on the gas and air as well. I think anything that is reasonably slow, controlled and calm would work so perhaps find a pattern that suits you.